A sloppy second inning caused the Pittsburgh Pirates to lose 4-0 to the San Diego Padres Wednesday night at PNC Park.
The Padres have fared well at PNC Park posting a 34-16 record and winning all 14 series played at PNC Park before the Pirates swept last season’s three-game series. Now the Padres have a chance for a series win of their own.
With Ryan Vogelsong (1-2) on the mound, the Pirates committed two errors in the second inning.
After a one-out double from Jabari Blash, Christian Bethancourt singled and scored Blash. A Vogelsong throwing error advanced Bethancourt to second base.
Two batters later, Padres pitcher Edwin Jackson reached base on a Jung Ho Kang fielding error scoring a second run in the inning.
Both runs were unearned in Vogelsong’s final line.
Vogelsong pitched six innings allowing three hits and inducing seven ground ball outs.
On the offensive end, the Pirates had two hits for the entire game, Jordy Mercer’s sixth inning lead-off single and a lead off seventh inning single from Andrew McCutchen.
While hits were not frequent, three Pirates also walked against Jackson but double plays stunted those scoring chances.
Jackson (3-2) got eight ground ball outs and had a game score of 79 in seven innings of shutout baseball.
The Padres added two insurance runs.
The first came in the seventh inning off Juan Nicasio when Alexi Ramirez singled in Ryan Schimpf. Starling Marte’s throw home allowed Ramirez to go to second base. The Pirates challenged the play, but it was upheld.
An inning later, Antonio Bastardo was throwing to Alex Dickerson when Travis Jankowski stole home.
Pirates catcher Eric Fryer threw Bastardo’s pitch back to the mound, and on a delayed steal, Jankowski broke for the plate and reached safely. It was Jankowski’s 25th stolen base and second theft of home this season. It is a play the Padres have properly executed on four occasions this season.
Thursday afternoon both teams are going for a series win. Jameson Taillon (2-2, 3.29 ERA) takes on Christian Friedrich (4-7, 4.76 ERA).
Photo credit: @Pirates
