Pirates-Padres: Duke Pitches Gem; Buc Bats Explode

SAN DIEGO, April 25—Zach Duke (3-1, 2.43) looked unbeatable tonight, pitching into the ninth inning, which was desperately needed after the entire bullpen got a taste in last night’s extra-innings loss. 

Duke looked great and apparently felt great too.  “I feel like my delivery is where I want it to be and my arm strength is great right now.  I’m not changing a thing.”  

The Pirates got runs from the top, middle and bottom of the batting order.  With a lead, Duke pitched solidly through eight innings as the Pirates got their fifth shutout of the year.

Shawn Hill for the Padres got off to a rough start against the Pirates in the first inning, walking Nyjer Morgan at leadoff, and then giving up a ground-rule double to Freddy Sanchez and a single to Craig Monroe with the first three batters. 

Next Adam LaRoche hit into a double play but Sanchez scored from third to make it 2-0.

In the second Jason Jaramillo got things started with a double deep to the corner and Duke bunt-sacrificed him to third.  After Morgan struck out looking, Sanchez followed with a single to right scoring Jaramillo.  Monroe lined out to third to end the inning. 

Down three runs, the Padres brought Josh Gere (1.29)  in the third and he quieted the Pirate bats for an inning.  But he would not last long.

In the fourth Vazquez opened with a single and then Jaramillo hit is second double of the night, this time down the right field line.  The Pirates had things working with runners on second and third.  Then after Ian Snell got two hits last night, Duke drives a deep sacrifice scoring Vazquez.  Then Morgan sacrificed Jaramillo home from third, Pirates 5-0.

Showing no signs of letting up, the Pirates got a two-out Eric Hinske, before Andy LaRoche doubled him home to make it 6-0.  Eckstein’s throw to the plate was off target and got away from Nick Hundley allowing Hinske to score.  Andy LaRoche is on a nine-game hitting streak.

In the sixth the Pirates mustered a two-out rally with consecutive singles by Morgan and Sanchez and a two-run double from Monroe.  Adam LaRoche (0-for-4), the only hitless Pirate on the night, grounded out to end the inning, Pirates 8-0.

In the bottom of the sixth Scott Harriston hit a shot into the left field gap and legged out a triple, and later scored on a pop fly; Pirates 8-1.

In the seventh Frankie De La Cruz came in to relieve Gere walking three batters but the Pirates couldn’t get any runs out of it.

In the eighth Sanchez reached on a fielder’s choice, then Monroe reached on an infield single and Sanchez went to third on a blooper of a throw from Chris Burke to first base.  Adam LaRoche then walked after a very long at bat and Hinske followed with a single scoring Sanchez and loading the bases. 

Andy LaRoche then sacrificed Monroe home making the score 10-1, Adam LaRoche went to third.  Vazquez struck out to end the inning.

In the ninth the Padres showed a little bit of life getting a couple of singles from the top of the batting order, chasing Duke to keep him from the complete game.

The Pirates finished with 10 runs on 14 hits for an offensive explosion. 

The Pirates bullpen and starting rotation each have the best ERA in baseball right now.  The Pirates are in second place in the NL Central, 2.5 games behind St. Louis.  They finish up the series against the Padres tomorrow afternoon before going on to Milwaukee.