Pirates-Padres: Bucs Lose Tough One In Eleven

SAN DIEGO, April 24—The Pirates bullpen fought hard but the Padres finally go to them for a tie breaking single in the bottom of the eleventh inning, defeating the Buc 4-3.    

The Pirates (9-7) started their road trip traveling out to the west coast to take on the San Diego Padres.  Two teams traveling in opposite directions, the Padres (10-6) had lost three straight and the Pirates (9-6) were fresh off their three-game sweep of the Marlins, having won four of their last five.

With McLouth out of the order due to an injury the Pirates Eric Hinske was in left field with Nyjer Morgan sliding over to center.

The first inning was quiet with everyone going in order, but in the second a hit-by-pitch and couple of walks led to and RBI single by pitcher Ian Snell (1-2, 4.24).  Then with the bases still loaded the Pirates missed a huge opportunity when Morgan hit a ground ball fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Ian Snell (1-2, 4.24) took the mound and got right work.  Correia (0-1, 4.14) looks to be in trouble with his pitch count up to 39 with a couple of walks and a hit batter.

In the top bottom of the second, Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo shot over the center field wall to erase the 1-0 lead, and end Snell’s scoreless innings at 13.  Solid defense ended the inning.  After walking Nick Hundley he was trapped in a rundown between first and second on an attempted steal.  Snell only gave up one run hit in the inning.  He has given up four home runs on the year.  At the end of two the score was 1-1.

A couple of long at bats in the bottom of the inning from LaRoche and Hinske pushed Correia’s pitch count up to 59.

In the top of the fourth Luis Rodriquez got a second chance at bat and double to right.  Correia then sacrifice Rodriquez to third.  Then after J. Gerut flied out to center, David Eckstein hit a triple in to the left field corner scoring Rodriguez.  Giles then flied out to end the inning, Padres 2-1.

In the fifth Chase Headley got things going with a double to right.  A batter later Hundley then doubled to center scoring Headley, the fifth hit given up, all extra base hits.  Snell the intentionally walked to Luis Rodriguez to get to the pitcher but the strategy didn’t pay off as Correia singled to center loading up the bases.  However Gruent lined out to the pitcher to end the inning and the Padres left three on the bags.

Looking for a little pay back, Ian Snell single to lead of the bottom of the fifth.  Morgan bunt-sacrificed Snell to second, unable to beat the throw to first.  Snell advanced to third on a fielder’s choice ground by Jack Wilson, before Sanchez struck out to end the inning.  Snell had accounted for all the Pirates hits through five.

In the top of the sixth Snell again got himself into real trouble walking three to load the bases with two outs, but amazingly Hundley grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

In the sixth the Pirate bats finally woke up, as Adam LaRoche opened with a walk and Hinske followed with a double moving LaRoche to third.  The Padres went to the bullpen immediately calling on Cla C. Merredith.  Moss grounded to the short stop for the first out, scoring LaRoche and moving Hinske to third.  Andy LaRoche then singled to center scoring Hinske and tieing the game at 3-3.  Jeremy Jaramillo then singled to right moving LaRoche to third with still only one out.  Delyn Young then came in to pinch hit for Snell.  Jaramillo then stole second and Merrideth intentionally walked Morgan to load the bases.  Wilson then struck out leaving the bases loaded; Pirates 3, Padres 3.

Jesse Chavez came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and the Padres went in order.  It has appear as if Jaramillo hasn’t looked that great behind the plate, mishandling a couple of throws and not communicating very smoothly with the pitchers on the night.

The score would remain into extra innings.  Sean Burnette in relief got into to trouble walking Brian Giles.  Gonzalez reached on fielder’s choice to first.  Headley next reached on a a throwing error after a sharp hit straight at SS Jack Wilson.  Wilson through wide getting his first error in 51 games, but no runs would score in the inning.

The Pirates failed to get anything going in the tenth or the eleventh.  After getting Rodriquez to fly out, Chris Burke waled.  Gerut popped out and then Burke stole second.  Eckstein walked to put runners on first and second.  Former Pirate Brian Giles then hit single into right scoring Burke from second.

The Padres take the first game in the series, 4-3.

Later today Zach Duke (2-1, 2.95) will be pitching against Shawn Hill (1-0, 3.60).  Duke gave up 6 runs on 12 hits in his last appearance.