Pirates Manage Just Three Hits in 5-1 Loss to Padres

The Pirates managed just three hits in a testy 5-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night. The Friars made some outstanding defensive plays, and Pirates’ reliever Ángel Perdomo let his emotions get the best of him in a seventh inning that ended with both him and manager Derek Shelton ejected.

Recap:

Padres’ right fielder Fernando Tatís Jr. robbed Bryan Reynolds of extra bases in the first inning with a magnificent leaping catch at the wall.

First baseman Carlos Santana walked to lead off the second. Right fielder Henry Davis doubled him home to open a 1-0 lead for the Pirates. 

San Diego tied the game right away, with third baseman Manny Machado hammering a hanging cutter over the left-center wall. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts singled and swiped second, coming around to score on a single from catcher Gary Sánchez.

Padres’ designated hitter Luis Campusano walked in the fourth. San Diego narrowly missed tacking on another run when a Sánchez fly ball bounced over the wall, pausing Campusano at third on the ground-rule double.

Endy Rodríguez pinch-hit for Hedges in the seventh, reaching on a single. Connor Joe walked, but Padres’ left fielder Juan Soto prevented the Pirates from tying the game with a diving catch off Andrew McCutchen to end the inning. 

Alika Williams made his major league debut in the bottom of the frame, entering at shortstop for Liover Peguero and combining with Rodríguez to catch a runner stealing. Soto hit a two-out homer off Perdomo to stretch the lead to 3-1. Perdomo retaliated by plunking Machado in the arm with a 98 mile per hour fastball, prompting the umpires to eject him and Shelton.

Sánchez hit a two-run bomb in the eighth to make it 5-1. 

Williams drew a one-out walk in the ninth, but Padres’ closer Josh Hader struck out the side to slam the door shut.

Key Moment:

Soto kept the game tied with a diving catch in the seventh inning before extending the lead with a no-doubt home run. 

Star of the Game:

Gary Sánchez went 3-for-4, coming a triple shy of the cycle with three RBI.

Stat of Interest:

The Pirates managed just three hits, one of which went for extra bases. Seven drawn walks helped them stay in the game.

Noteworthy:

Shortstop Alika Williams made his major league debut in the seventh inning. He drew an 11-pitch walk against Hader in his first career plate appearance.

Machado and Soto each hit their 20th home runs of the season.

Snell allowed just two hits but struggled to throw strikes, helping the Pirates chase him from the game after five walks in six innings.

The loss marks Pittsburgh’s first against San Diego in five games this season.

Ke’Bryan Hayes began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. He went 0 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.

Up Next: 

The Pirates’ west coast road trip concludes on Wednesday at 4:10pm ET against the Padres. Pittsburgh (44-57) looks to take the series with Johan Oviedo (3-11, 4.77 ERA, 101 SO) on the mound. San Diego counters with right-hander Seth Lugo (4-4, 3.72 ERA, 71 SO).