Pirates Conclude Dreadful Homestand With Lifeless Loss to Padres

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have had bad losses this year. They’ve had sloppy ones too. But Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the San Diego Padres PNC Park was the most disinterested they’ve looked all season. 

How We Got There

Xander Bogaerts drove in three runs for the Padres (22-11), one on a base hit in the first and two more on a double the following inning.

Former Pirates catcher Elias Díaz hit a solo homer to left off Andrew Heaney in the top of the second. The ball ticked off the glove of Tommy Pham, who nearly made a spectacular catch. 

As for the Pirates… 

They were shut out against a pitcher making his first big-league start. There were a couple defensive miscues, including an uncontested double steal. They were picked off second base to end the second inning (more on that later). Matt Gorski hit a one-out triple in the seventh but was thrown out at home on a Jared Triolo grounder to Padres third baseman Manny Machado. 

It was another uninspiring loss. And it’s why they fell to 12-23.

Key Moment

Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the second, the Pirates had two on and one out. After Adam Frazier struck out, Ke’Bryan Hayes was picked off second base to end the inning. 

Star of the Game

In his first-career start, Stephen Kolek (1-0) blanked the Pirates across 5.1 innings. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out four. Kolek was recalled from Triple-A El Paso before the start of the game.

Notable Pirates Performances

• Andrew Heaney (2-3): 3.2 innings, eight hits, four tuns, four walks, three strikeouts, 100 pitches/62 strikes
• Colin Holderman: 2.1 innings, two hits, no runs, no walks, one strikeout, 21 pitches/16 strikes
• Matt Gorski: 2 for 2, one triple
• Joey Bart: 2 for 4
• Ke’Bryan Hayes: 2 for 4
• Tommy Pham: 2 for 4

Stat to Know

The Pirates left 28 runners on base in this series and went 3 for 20 with runners in scoring position. It was their sixth shutout-loss of the season.

Noteworthy

• You’re still reading this? Kudos to you and thanks!
• The Pirates reinstated RHP Dennis Santana from the bereavement list. RHP Kyle Nicolas was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Up Next

The Pirates will travel to St. Louis to start a three-game series on Monday night. RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (1-3, 6.58 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh opposite veteran RHP Miles Mikolas (1-2, 4.66 ERA). First pitch: 7:45 p.m. ET.