Padres’ rookies too much for Pirates
Pittsburgh catcher Francisco Cervelli gets help from a trainer after a foul ball by San Diego’s Cory Spangenberg struck him in the fourth inning Saturday night.
Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell, left, gets congratulations from Jordy Mercer after scoring during the seventh inning Saturday night against the San Diego Padres.
SAN DIEGO (AP) – Dinelson Lamet pitched two-hit ball into the seventh inning and fellow rookie Manuel Margot homered and scored twice, leading the San Diego Padres to a 4-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.
San Diego stretched its win streak to four. Pittsburgh lost its fourth straight and sixth in seven games overall.
Lamet (5-4) held the Pirates hitless until David Freese and Adam Frazier opened the fifth with singles. The right-hander got Francisco Cervelli to line out to second baseman Carlos Asuaje, who doubled off Freese. Jordy Mercer flied out to end the inning.
Kirby Yates pitched the ninth for his first save of the season and second of his career.
Pittsburgh right-hander Ivan Nova (10-8) was charged with four runs and eight hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked none.
San Diego jumped on Nova for two in the first. Margot singled and scored on Jose Pirela’s first of two triples. Hector Sanchez added a run-scoring double.
Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit an RBI double in the fourth, and Margot added his eighth homer in the fifth.
Lamet was pulled after the first two batters reached in the seventh. Craig Stammen came in and Freese responded with an RBI single. Adam Frazier then singled before Cervelli hit into a double play, bringing in Josh Bell.
After Jordy Mercer walked, Phil Maton came in and struck out pinch hitter Jose Osuna to end the inning.
Pirela went 2 for 4 and scored a run. He is filling in at first base while slumping Wil Myers gets two games off.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Manager Clint Hurdle said OF Gregory Polanco (hamstring) is getting close to coming off the disabled list.
Padres: C Austin Hedges (concussion) and 2B Yangervis Solarte (strained side muscle) are scheduled to come off the disabled list on Sunday. Solarte could play some shortstop.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (8-7, 4.12 ERA), who lives in Santa Ana and played at UCLA, is scheduled to start the series finale Sunday. He is 5-1 with a 3.04 ERA in his last eight starts, and 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA in four career starts against San Diego.
Padres: LHP Clayton Richard (5-11, 5.37 ERA) has a 2.01 ERA in eight appearances against the Pirates, including three starts.