Pirates Drop 10th Straight: Keller Crumbles Again, Ex-Bucco Shines

For the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday’s game against the San Diego Padres felt like it was over before it even really began.

Mitch Keller got knocked around while Martín Pérez dazzled as the Pirates (56-64) dropped their 10th-straight game with an 8-2 loss to the Padres (69-53) at PETCO Park.

Recap

With two on and nobody out in the bottom of the first, Jake Cronenworth connected on a three-run homer to right field.

San Diego added to the lead in the fourth when center fielder Michael A. Taylor made an ill-advised dive on a sinking liner which resulted in a run-scoring double for Luis Arraez. 

Immediately after Jackson Merrill brought home two runs with a triple in the third, David Peralta celebrated his 37th birthday with a two-run homer to right center, his second in as many games. 

Keller (10-7) was able to complete five innings but allowed eight runs on eight hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. 

Joey Bart connected on a solo home run to left field, his career-high tying 11th, to get the Pirates on the board.

It was the only blemish against Pérez (3-5), who allowed allowed five hits, walked one and struck out eight in his third start for the Padres.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa dropped a single into right field with the bases loaded to make the score 8-2 in the ninth.

Key Moment

Cronenworth’s first-inning homer seemed to take the life out of the Pirates. Considering how the Pirates have been playing, the early three-run lead for San Diego felt more like 10.

Star of the Game

Birthday boy David Peralta went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. He was one of four Padres to have multiple hits.

Stat to Know

Pérez’s eight strikeouts against the Pirates are the most he’d had in a game this season and his most since striking out nine on Aug. 3, 2022 while with the Rangers. 

Noteworthy

• Keller has allowed 15 runs across nine innings in his last two starts. His season ERA has spiked from 3.20 to 3.95 because of it.
• The Pirates ended the three-game series 3 for 25 with runners in scoring position and left 28 runners on base.

Up Next

The Pirates have an off day on Thursday after traveling back to Pittsburgh for a brief three-game homestand with the Mariners. Good pitching matchup in the series opener on Friday as Paul Skenes (6-2, 2.25 ERA) squares off with Logan Gilbert (7-8, 2.91 ERA).