The Pittsburgh Pirates had the opportunity to sweep the San Diego Padres in San Diego for the first time since April 29-May 1 of 2003 on Wednesday afternoon. The only thing standing in their way was the brilliant performance by Ian Kennedy.
Newly acquired Kennedy showed his best Francisco Liriano impression, playing stopper for the Padres to salvage a game in the three game series against the Pirates at Petco Park. Yonder Alonso supplied all the offense with a sacrifice fly and RBI single to pace the Padres to a 2-1 win.
After getting out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning, Kennedy retired 17 of the next 20 batters he faced en route to seven scoreless innings. He finished with eight strikeouts in the game and allowed four hits. Kennedy improved to 5-9 with the win.
For the Pirates, rookie Gerrit Cole had arguably his No. 1 fan in the stands during Wednesday’s series finale against the Padres. John Savage, Cole’s head coach at UCLA was in attendance watching his phenom pitch for the first time live since his days as a Bruin. Cole surrendered two runs in six innings of work but it didn’t come easy. Cole gave up a staggering 10 hits in six innings of work. The loss brings his record to an even 6-6.
The Padres struck first in the bottom of the third. Will Venable laced a leadoff double off the right field wall. After advancing to third on a grounder to Pedro Alvarez, Venable was manufactured home on a sacrifice fly to left field by Alonso for the 1-0 lead. The lead was the first of the series for the Padres.
Cole, who was able to pitch his way out of damage for much of the first four innings, ran into two out trouble in the fifth. After erasing a leadoff single with a double play, Cole surrendered a base hit to Chris Denorfia. Denorfia manufactured the Padres second run of the game after stealing second and then just beating the throw home from Felix Pie on a single by Alonso. Alonso’s second RBI of the game gave San Diego a 2-0 lead and proved to be the winning run.
The top of the Pirates lineup took advantage once Kennedy left the game, scoring their first run of the game in the eighth inning off reliever Luke Gregerson. Pie, making his Pirates debut, led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a Neil Walker grounder to second and scampered over to third on a wild pitch, Andrew McCutchen, who was already working on a two hit day, cut the deficit to 2-1 with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
That was as close as the Pirates got. San Diego closer Huston Street shut the door in the ninth for his 24th save of the season. Street struck out Russell Martin and Garrett Jones before getting Gaby Sanchez to weakly fly out to center to end the game.
McCutchen led the offense with a 2-for-2 effort and had the lone RBI. Alonso led the Padres with both RBIs to go along with two hits.
The Pirates will continue their west coast trip tomorrow with the first of four games in San Francisco. Jeff Locke (9-4, 2.90 ERA) will look to right the ship after getting roughed up in his previous start against the Diamondbacks. Matt Cain (4-4, 4.35) will take the mound for the Giants. First pitch is at 10:15 p.m.
Game Notes: Felix Pie had his contract selected from Triple-A Indy and went 1-for-3 with a run in his Pirates debut…Wandy Rodriguez was transferred to the 60-day DL to make room for Pie on the 40-man roster…Ryan Reid was optioned back to Triple-A Indy…The Pirates are a game ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central after the Cardinals 8-6 win over the Brewers on Wednesday.
