Sunday, July 25, 2010
Photo
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker falls over Cincinnati Reds’ Chris Heisey as he throws to first to complete the double play on a ground ball by Todd Frazier in the eighth inning of a game Sunday in Pittsburgh.
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH
Mat Latos pitched effectively over six innings despite giving up two solo home runs in his first start since July 8 and the division-leading San Diego Padres won for the seventh time in nine games, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2 on Saturday night.
With Latos (11-4) back in the rotation and winning his sixth in a row, it was a typical night for the Padres.
They lack power hitters and their .253 batting average is the NL’s fourth worst, yet a team with a league-best 57-39 record keeps finding ways to manufacture runs.
Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez’s error misplaying Jerry Hairston Jr.’s grounder began a three-run sixth — the first of two multiple-run San Diego innings that started with an infield error.
Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Headley had run-scoring singles and Nick Hundley added a sacrifice fly off Jeff Karstens (2-6) in an inning that included two walks and a stolen base.
The Padres scored five times in an eighth inning that started with first baseman Garrett Jones’ error and included a 42-minute rain delay.
Former San Diego reliever Sean Gallagher committed a balk with the bases loaded, and pinch-hitter Oscar Salazar had a two-run double.
The Padres hit a combined four sacrifice flies, and their league-leading bullpen didn’t allow a run in six innings.
Padres relievers pitched three scoreless innings for the second night in a row, with rookie Ernesto Frieri and Joe Thatcher combining for the seventh before Tim Stauffer pitched the final two innings to lower his ERA to 0.31.
This is typical, too — a Padres series victory in Pittsburgh. The Padres are assured of winning their 10th consecutive series in PNC Park, where they are 23-9.
The Pirates lost their third in a row and their 11th in 15 games overall.