Padres blank Pirates
PITTSBURGH – Edwin Jackson pitched two-hit ball over seven innings, Travis Jankowski capped the scoring with a straight steal of home and the San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 Wednesday night.
Jackson (3-2) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Jordy Mercer’s leadoff single. The 14-year veteran struck out seven and walked three while raising his career record against the Pirates to 10-3.
Since being called up July 17 from Triple-A El Paso, Jackson has recorded quality starts in four of five outings. The Miami Marlins released him June 2.
Jankowski’s steal came with two outs in the eighth. The rookie center fielder took off during catcher Eric Fryer’s return throw to pitcher Antonio Bastardo and scored standing up when Fryer could not handle Bastardo’s low throw to the plate.
Jankowski was 2 for 4 with a double and the only player on either side with multiple hits.
Ryan Buchter and Brandon Maurer completed the two-hitter with one perfect inning each.
Ryan Vogelsong (1-2) gave up two unearned run and three hits in six innings while striking out five and walking one.
It was the 39-year-old’s second start since sustaining facial fractures May 23 when hit by a pitch. He returned last Thursday and allowed one run in six innings against the Braves but did not factor in the decision in a game the Pirates lost.
The Padres capitalized on a throwing error by Vogelsong and a fielding error by third baseman Jung Ho Kang to score twice in the second inning.
Ryan Schimpf doubled and scored on Alexei Ramirez’s single in the seventh to make it 3-0.
The Pirates remained 2 1/2 games behind the Miami Marlins for the second NL wild card.
Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli left the game in the fifth inning with left wrist discomfort. First basemanJohn Jaso sat after sustaining a bruised left eye in a home plate collision Tuesday night, though he passed MLB’s concussion protocol. Catcher Chris Stewart (left knee discomfort) will begin a rehab assignment Friday at Class AA Altoona. He’s been on the disabled list since July 2. RHP Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder soreness) is scheduled to pitch four innings Sunday in his first rehab start with Altoona and be on a 70-pitch limit after being out since July 24.