Rookie Cassel pitches first win as San Diego blanks Bucs, 3-0

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Jack Cassel pitched six innings for his first big league win and Khalil Greene hit a two-run homer as the San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 Monday night.

Cassel (1-0) was making his second career start and fourth appearance. He started in place of Justin Germano, who was skipped in the rotation because he’s been struggling.

The 27-year-old right-hander scattered eight hits over six innings while striking out three and walking none. Cassel is the older brother of Matt Cassel, backup quarterback for the New England Patriots.

The Pirates had runners on first and third twice against the rookie but couldn’t score. Pittsburgh’s Jack Wilson, who had hits in his previous five at-bats coming into the game — including three home runs — stranded two runners in the second and two more in the fourth. Pirates starter John Van Benschoten doubled in the fifth and eventually reached third, but was stranded.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 38th save in 43 chances, extending his career record to 520.

While Cassel got his first big league win, Van Benschoten fell to 0-6 in eight starts this season. Van Benschoten, the Pirates’ first-round pick in the June 2001 draft, has only one career victory.

Van Benschoten did lower his ERA, from 10.86 to 10.06. He allowed three runs and five hits in five innings, struck out two and walked three.