The Pirates lost 4-2 in San Diego Wednesday against an undrafted free agent lefty named Andrew Werner who has weak-looking stuff and was making his major-league debut. The loss capped a sweep for the Padres that really wasn't the Pirates' finest hour. Werner went six innings and walked four batters, but the Pirates failed to hit him hard, mostly generating one ground-ball out after another.
James McDonald gave up three in the first after he walked the first three batters, then allowed a two-run double by Carlos Quentin and a sacrifice fly. The Pirates got one back in the fourth off Pedro Alvarez's RBI single, but went down by three again in the fifth when Will Venable doubled and Quentin's single brought him home. Gaby Sanchez's solo homer in the seventh was the the only offense the Pirates could muster thereafter, as Brad Brach, Luke Gregerson and Tommy Layne proceeded to shut the Bucs down.
McDonald walked five batters in five innings in the loss.
The Pirates have a much-needed day off Thursday before kicking off a series against the Brewers.
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