Reynolds caps comeback with 3-run blast, Pirates beat Tigers
By WES CROSBY Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Coming off a hitless night, Bryan Reynolds told teammate Corey Dickerson he felt pressure to produce. Dickerson told the rookie to write a few things down to help him remember what he was doing, and what he was thinking, when he was hot.
Dickerson wasn’t sure if Reynolds took his advice, but the rookie turned it around on Wednesday night.
Reynolds had three hits, including a three-run homer in the sixth inning to complete the Pirates’ rally from a six-run deficit, and Pittsburgh beat the Detroit Tigers 8-7.
“He’s so simple,” Dickerson said. “He has a simple approach. When you’re simple like that, you’re going to have good contact.”
With the Pirates trailing 7-5, Reynolds sent a knuckle curve from Nick Ramirez (3-2) 421 feet to left-center for his sixth homer of the season, driving in Kevin Newman and Adam Frazier.
Felipe Vázquez retired the side in order in the ninth for his 17th save.
The Pirates trailed 7-1 after Detroit scored five times before recording an out in the third. Brandon Dixon took Trevor Williams deep for his eighth homer of the season, and Harold Castro followed with his first in the majors. It was the fourth time this season the Tigers have hit back-to-back home runs.
“We kind of got shut down,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We hit a few balls hard on the nose, but really got shut down. Momentum started changing a little bit.”
Dickerson cut it to 7-3 on a two-run double in the bottom of the third, and Starling Marte made it 7-5 with a two-run blast, his 11th, in the fifth.
“A couple big swings, one from Marte and one from Reynolds,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Dickerson, a two-RBI swing to get us back in it when we were down 7-1. There were three big swings that plated seven runs.”
Richard Rodriguez (2-3) worked a scoreless sixth for Pittsburgh after Williams gave up seven runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts in the first five innings. Williams came off the 10-day injured list to make his first start in more than a month after suffering a right side strain.
“I’m just thankful to be back out there, thankful to be coming off the mound healthy today,” Williams said. “I learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about our team too.”
Ramirez allowed five runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings in relief of Jordan Zimmermann, who also came off the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Zimmermann gave up three runs on five hits in four innings after last pitching April 25 because of a UCL sprain.
“I’d like to go five innings and be out there as long as I can,” Zimmermann said. “Threw a lot of good pitches that they fouled off. It was just one of those games that was a grind.”
Newman’s double in the sixth extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: OF Victor Reyes was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after Detroit’s 5-4 win Tuesday. He had been recalled from Toledo earlier that day and walked in a pinch-hit appearance.
Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday. In his three starts with Pittsburgh, Keller is 0-1 with a 10.50 ERA. … RHP Jordan Lyles will make a rehab start Sunday with a farm club to be determined, Hurdle said. He has not pitched since June 8 because of tightness in his left hamstring. … A neurologist will examine C Francisco Cervelli on Tuesday. Cervelli has been out with a concussion since May 25.
UP NEXT
Tigers: LHP Matthew Boyd (5-5, 3.35 ERA) will look for his first win since May 28 when he takes the mound against Cleveland on Friday. He gave up five runs, four earned, in four innings against Kansas City on June 13.
Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (4-7, 4.87) will attempt to rebound against San Diego on Friday after surrendering six runs on nine hits to Atlanta in four innings his last time out on June 13. Musgrove was ejected with two outs in the first inning of his previous start after grazing Josh Donaldson with a pitch.
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Pirates rally for 5-4 victory over Marlins
MIAMI (AP) — Josh Bell’s go-ahead double in the seventh helped lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday.
The Pirates rallied from a 4-2 deficit on Corey Dickerson’s pinch-hit RBI double off Miami starter Sandy Alcantara in the sixth and took the lead in the seventh against reliever Nick Anderson (2-3) on Melky Cabrera’s game-tying triple and Bell’s double that scored Cabrera.
Cabrera went 2-for-4 and Kevin Newman also had two hits for the Pirates, who won the series after ending a seven-game slide Friday.
Richard Rodríguez (1-3) pitched a scoreless sixth and Kyle Krick got the next five outs. Felipe Vázquez pitched 1 1/3 innings around Austin Dean’s pinch-hit single in the ninth for his 16th save.
Alcantara gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings. He struck out and walked two.
The Marlins erased a two-run deficit, scoring four in the fourth on Harold Ramírez’s three-run home run and Alcantara’s RBI single. Ramírez drove Pittsburgh starter Chris Archer’s fastball over the wall in left-center for his second homer of the season.
Archer allowed four runs, seven hits, struck out eight and walked three in five innings.
Jung Ho Kang’s two-run double in the fourth gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead. Kang drove in Colin Moran and Bell, who reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on Moran’s single to right.
TRAINER’S ROOM:
Pirates: RHP Chris Statton (right side discomfort) allowed three runs (one earned) and five hits in two innings of relief in his second rehab relief outing Friday at Triple-A Indianapolis.
Marlins: After participating in pregame workouts during the Marlins home series with the Pirates, IF Neil Walker (right quadriceps strain) will continue baseball activities at the club’s Class A complex in Jupiter.
UP NEXT:
Pirates: Clint Hurdle had not disclosed the starter for Tuesday’s home game against Detroit.
Marlins: RHP Elieser Hernández (0-1) will start the opener of a four-game series at St. Louis on Monday. Hernández allowed three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Cardinals on June 11.
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Pirates rout Marlins 11-0 to stop 7-game slide
MIAMI (AP) — Steven Brault nearly had a very brief outing.
Fortunately for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he stayed in the game.
Brault scattered eight hits over six innings, and the Pirates stopped a seven-game slide by routing the Miami Marlins 11-0 on Friday night.
Brault (3-1) was hit on his left leg by Starlin Castro’s line drive in the first, but it didn’t seem to affect him very much.
“That was not ideal, that’s not what we’re looking for, right in the shin,” Brault said. “When they came out we had a little laugh over it and I said, ‘I’m OK.’ You don’t feel it at first and when you stand up, ‘Oh yeah, that doesn’t feel great.’ I’m OK, it’s just a bruise.”
The left-hander struck out six and walked none. He also went 2 for 2 at the plate.
Colin Moran drove in a career-high five runs with two singles and a homer and Bryan Reynolds had a career-best four hits for the Pirates, who got their first win since June 6 against Atlanta. They finished with 18 hits, matching a season high.
The Pirates broke it open with a four-run fifth off Trevor Richards. Josh Bell tripled in Reynolds and scored on Moran’s base hit.
Moran’s three-run shot in the seventh increased Pittsburgh’s lead to 8-0. The former Marlins No. 1 draft pick drove Jeff Bigham’s fastball over the wall in left-center for his 10th homer.
“We have a lot of guys that can get on base,” Moran said. “When I’m in the five-hole guys are in scoring position and it’s a chance to drive in runs.
“We needed it. We came out and had a really good game to get it rolling now.”
José Osuna connected for his second pinch-hit homer of the season in the eighth, a two-run drive off Jarlin Garcia.
“The big bang late from Osuna was an exclamation point. Good hitting from top to bottom,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said.
Three relievers pitched the final three innings for the Pirates.
Richards (3-7) allowed five runs and 11 hits in five innings. In his previous four starts, Richards limited opposing hitters to a .160 average in 24 2/3 innings.
“I wasn’t consistent with the fastball today,” Richards said. “They got me early in the count. It happens. I just have to do the adjustment and come back better the next time.”
Moran’s single to center drove in Starling Marté from second to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Marté reached on an infield single and advanced to second on Richards’ throwing error.
Brault escaped from a bases-loaded situation in the third when he struck out Jorge Alfaro.
“We had enough guys out there, enough traffic to put some multiple runs and get back in the game,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said.
ROSTER MOVE
The Marlins placed veteran infielder Martín Prado on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. Infielder Yadiel Rivera was promoted from Triple-A New Orleans and went 1 for 4.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (right side strain) showed no discomfort in his rehab start of three innings Thursday at Triple-A Indianapolis. … RHP Jameson Taillon (right elbow flexor strain) recently began gripping exercises and range of motion activities.
Marlins: RHP José Ureña (herniated disk) was placed on the 60-day injured list. The team’s opening-day starter the past two seasons, Ureña missed his scheduled start Wednesday, but the severity of the injury was not disclosed until Friday.
UP NEXT
Pirates: After seven seasons in the minor leagues, right-hander Dario Agrazal will be promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday and start the second game of the series. Agrazal, 24, is not on the 40-man roster after the Pirates designated him for assignment in January. He cleared waivers and the Pirates outrighted him to Indianapolis, where he is 4-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 49 1/3 innings.
Marlins: Pablo López (4-5, 4.26 ERA) will make his first career start against the Pirates. Lopez has completed six innings in each of his past three starts, allowing a combined two runs and 11 hits.

Mike Foltynewicz gives up 2 more HR, Pirates beat Braves 6-1
By ALAN SAUNDERS Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — If the Atlanta Braves needed more reason to pursue free agent pitcher Dallas Keuchel, they may have gotten it on Thursday.
Mike Foltynewicz allowed consecutive home runs to Colin Moran and Gregory Polanco in the second inning of a 6-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, another subpar outing for the 2018 All-Star.
Foltynewicz (1-5) has allowed 15 home runs, one shy of NL leader Kyle Freeland of Colorado. He gave up three runs, six hits and one walk in six innings, lowering his ERA from 6.10 to 5.89.
Braves manager Brian Snithker has faith the 27-year-old Foltynewicz can regain his form.
“He’s just a click away,” Snitker said. “He’s left pitches over the middle of the plate. You do that, they get whacked. After all that — that was the second inning — then he started making pitches.”
Moran gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead with a two-run drive above the Clemente Wall in right field, his eighth home run this season. Three pitches later, Polanco sent a curveball into the last row of the right-field seats.
“In starts past, I wouldn’t have gotten through the third or maybe that inning,” Foltynewicz said. “I really felt like I got stronger as the game went on. I felt better and better every inning I went out. So it was something to go off of there in the second inning. I’m really glad I stopped the bleeding.”
Atlanta allowed 18 runs while losing two of three to the Pirates. Foltynewicz and Kevin Gausman, the loser in Wednesday’s 7-4 defeat, are a combined 3-9.
Josh Bell had three doubles, increasing his major league-leading total to 25, and had two RBIs to take sole possession of the big league lead with 58.
Chris Archer (3-5) gave up one run and six hits in six innings, a turnaround after he yielded at least three runs in each of his previous five starts.
“It was nice to get a series win against a really good club, a really good lineup,” Archer said. “I think it did something for this clubhouse. We’re looking forward to rolling into Milwaukee with that swagger that we have.”
Felipe Vázquez got four outs for his 15th save in 16 chances. He entered with a 3-1 lead and a runner on in the eighth, then retired Nick Markakis on a foulout. After Atlanta loaded the bases in the ninth on a single and a pair of walks, Vázquez struck out Dansby Swanson on three pitches for the final out.
Bell, who had started June in a 2-for-14 slide, hit a two-run double off Jacob Webb in the bottom half and scored on Elias Díaz’s double.
“It was just watching video, seeing what was going right when I was on there for a little bit and then just trying to get back there,” Bell said.
Freddie Freeman put Atlanta ahead in the first with his 16th home run.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (right side strain) is tentatively scheduled to make his first minor league injury rehabilitation start on June 13. … LF Corey Dickerson (right shoulder strain) said he is traveling with the team to Milwaukee but he does not know when he wi(backslash)’ll be activated from the IL. He hit .182 in nine rehab games with Triple-A Indianapolis.
UP NEXT
Braves: RHP Mike Soroka (6-1, 1.41 ERA) will start a three-game series at Miami. The rookie has allowed three earned runs or fewer in all nine starts this season and has won six straight decisions.
Pirates: RHP Rookie Davis (0-0, 5.87 ERA) will make his first start with Pittsburgh to start a 10-game trip at Milwaukee. The former Cincinnati Reds prospect hasn’t started in the majors since Sept. 20, 2017. He was 1-3 with a 5.35 ERA in seven starts in Indianapolis.
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Ryu’s shutout streak ends; Dodgers still roll by Pirates 7-2
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Hyun-Jin Ryu knew his scoreless streak wouldn’t last forever. So when it finally came to an end at 32 innings against Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ veteran pitcher shrugged.
“I wasn’t really thinking about the streak to begin with,” Ryu said.
There were more pressing matters on Saturday night anyway. Namely trying to find his way on a night when he admittedly didn’t have his best stuff. Though he lacked the crispness that marked the best stretch of his injury-marred six-year career, Ryu found a way anyway in a 7-2 victory.
Ryu (7-1) allowed a season-high 10 hits but managed to clamp down when necessary to get through six innings as the Dodgers beat the Pirates for the 10th straight time.
“They were pretty aggressive at the plate and some of my pitches weren’t as sharp as I wanted them to be,” Ryu said after his ERA ticked up to 1.65. “At the end of the day I did give up a lot of hits and it hurts to give up that many hits but I was able to limit damage.”
And do a little damage at the plate in the process. Ryu gave the Dodgers the lead for good in the fourth when he turned a full-count fastball from Joe Musgrove (3-5) into a double to the gap in right-center field that scored Chris Taylor to put Los Angeles up 3-2.
“I think it was the first time this year I made hard contact at the plate and it just happened to be a good hit,” Ryu said.
Asked if he felt it was a home run, the 32-year-old joked “it was hit well but I have to work on my launch angle.”
Maybe Ryu was just trying to fit in. His double was one of eight by the Dodgers on the night, the most by any team in the majors this season. Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager both doubled and drove in two runs. Bellinger finished 2 for 4 to boost his major-league leading batting average to .391. Max Muncy added two doubles of his own as Los Angeles won for the eighth time in 10 games.
“We’re very dynamic,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We don’t discriminate against the double.”
Ryu’s scoreless streak that began on May 1 against San Francisco ended at 32 innings — the 10th longest in franchise history — when Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell led off the second with a double then raced home when Los Angeles catcher Russell Martin threw wide of third base trying to cut down Bell after Melky Cabrera’s swinging bunt. Cabrera scored later in the inning on an RBI single by Cole Tucker to tie the score at 2.
It was all the Pirates would get against Ryu. Though Starling Marte had three of Pittsburgh’s 11 hits while Bell and Kevin Newman chipped in two hits apiece the Pirates lost for the fourth time in five games after going 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position and leaving eight men on base.
“We pushed a guy that nobody’s pushed for a while,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “Nine hits through the first five innings (but) … we weren’t able to add on.”
URIAS RETURNS
Dodgers reliever Julio Urias pitched two scoreless innings in his first appearance since returning from administrative leave following his arrest for investigation of misdemeanor domestic battery earlier this month. There was a small smattering of boos when Urias was introduced.
“With Julio nothing surprises us,” Roberts said. “Hadn’t pitched in a major league game in quite some time. Ball was coming out good … I thought two innings was perfect for him.”
BANGED UP BUCS
Pittsburgh catcher Francisco Cervelli left in the fourth inning with concussion-like symptoms shortly after getting hit by Bellinger’s bat. Cervelli, who has dealt with concussions each of the last two seasons, will be re-evaluated on Sunday. If he heads to the injured list, he’d push Pittsburgh’s total number of players who have been put on the list to 21, the most in the majors.
“I think there’s a part of (Cervelli) that doesn’t ever want to come out of games,” Hurdle said. “There’s a part of him that also thinks, ‘You know what, I’m not going to do myself any good by continuing, either.’ He’s had enough experienced through it all by now that he knows when it’s time to back away.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: 3B Justin Turner was held out of the lineup as a preventative measure due to discomfort in his left shin. … RHP Pedro Baez (upper right leg contusion) was given a third straight game off.
Pirates: RHP Chris Stratton (right side discomfort) was placed on the 10-day injured list and moved Lonnie Chisenhall (fractured right index finger) to the 60-day injured list, though Chisenhall is eligible to return next week. Pittsburgh recalled RHP Dovydas Neverauskas from Triple-A Indianapolis and selected the contract of RHP Rookie Davis. Davis and Neverauskas both pitched in relief of Musgrove in an effort to help out Pittsburgh’s overtaxed bullpen.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: Kenta Maeda (5-2, 3.51 ERA) returns from a stint on the injured list with a left adductor contusion on Sunday. Opponents are hitting just .220 off Maeda in nine starts.
Pirates: Chris Archer (1-4, 5.55 ERA) looks for his first victory since April 7 in the series finale.
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Moran, Musgrove lead Pirates to 6-4 win vs Padres
By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Colin Moran hit a three-run home run and finished with four RBIs, and Joe Musgrove beat his hometown Padres for the second time in as many seasons as the Pittsburgh Pirates won 6-4 Sunday to take three of four.
Musgrove (3-4) was the second straight alum of Grossmont High in suburban El Cajon to beat the Padres. Steven Brault won Saturday night in relief of opener Montana DuRapau.
The big right-hander took a one-hit shutout into the seventh before the Padres broke out for four runs, the big blow coming on Hunter Renfroe’s three-run home run.
Greg Garcia, who played at Valhalla High in El Cajon, was the first Padres baserunner to reach second against Musgrove when he hit a leadoff double. He scored on a single by Alex Dickerson, who played at suburban Poway High.
With one out, Eric Hosmer hit a comebacker and Musgrove tried to go to second but his throw was wide for an error. Renfroe followed with a shot into the Padres’ bullpen beyond the left-center fence to pull the Padres to 5-4. It was his 11th homer.
Moran got his fourth RBI in the eighth when he drove in Bryan Reynolds, who doubled.
Musgrove retired his first six batters and didn’t allow a hit until Hosmer singled to left leading off the fifth. He allowed four runs, three earned, and four hits in 6 1/3 innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.
Felipe Vazquez pitched the ninth for his 13th save.
Moran’s homer off rookie Cal Quantrill (0-2) with two outs in the first inning helped stake Musgrove to a 4-0 lead before he threw a pitch and was Pittsburgh’s fourth hit in a span of six batters. Josh Bell, who homered twice in Saturday night’s win, was aboard on an RBI single and rookie Reynolds, who homered Friday and Saturday nights, also singled ahead of Moran’s homer.
Moran added an RBI single in the eighth off Robbie Erlin.
Quantrill was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to make the spot start, his third this season. He allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings, struck out two and walked two.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Chris Archer (1-3, 5.58) is scheduled to start Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game home series against Colorado.
Padres: Rookie RHP Chris Paddack (3-2, 1.99) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game home series against Arizona on Monday night. He’s coming off his worst start, when he allowed season highs with five hits and six runs, although only three were earned.
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Bell hits 2 of Pirates’ 4 homers in 7-2 win vs Padres
By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates jumped on rookie lefty Nick Margevicius for a season home run milestone Saturday night.
Josh Bell homered twice and drove in four, rookie Bryan Reynolds connected for the second straight night and the Pirates had their first four-homer game of the season in beating the San Diego Padres 7-2.
Margevicius (2-5) allowed the four homers in four-plus innings.
“It was a really good day for us at the ballpark,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “A lot of guys contributed.”
Bell has three career multihomer games, all in his last 14 games. He also had two homers against Oakland on May 4 and at Arizona on Tuesday. He’s homered 14 times this year.
The switch-hitter homered to left leading off the second, followed by Reynolds’ shot, also to left. Bell homered to left-center with one out in the third, with Adam Frazier aboard on a single and Starling Marte on a double.
“That right-handed swing is stronger than we’ve seen it in the past, evident by the swings today,” Hurdle said. “Both those balls were hit very, very well. It’s two more homers than he hit all last year, and it’s just past the middle of May.”
Padres manager Andy Green said Margevicius’ fastball “was leaking on him from the beginning. I think that Josh Bell’s second home run was a pitch we wanted out of the zone for sure, and he left it in the middle of the plate for him.”
Reynolds has three homers, including one in Friday night’s 5-3 victory.
Polanco lined a homer to right leading off the fifth, his fourth, to chase Margevicius.
Bell and Elias Diaz each had three hits.
Pittsburgh used an opener for the first time, with rookie righty Montana DuRapau holding San Diego to one hit in two scoreless innings while striking out four and walking one. He was making his first big league start and fifth appearance. He was a 32nd-round selection — the 971st pick overall — in the 2014 draft and made his major league debut May 9.
After allowing Hunter Renfroe’s single to open the second, DuRapau struck out rookie Ty France, Wil Myers and Austin Hedges.
Steven Brault (1-1), who played at Grossmont High in suburban El Cajon, replaced DuRapau and allowed two runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings.
“It was really cool” pitching at home, Brault said. “There was a lot of emotion. Last year I pitched here and didn’t pitch very long. This year to be able to come in, that first inning was a nightmare but this has been my year so far. To do it in San Diego was cool, with my friends and family all here was great.”
Brault allowed an RBI single by Manny Machado with one out in the third and then got out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Renfroe to hit into a double play. He also allowed an RBI single by rookie Austin Allen in the sixth. It was Allen’s first big league RBI.
“I wasn’t very sharp in the first inning and then got much better after that, and I think that’s maybe having to bear down more, like I’m coming in from the bullpen,” Brault said. “All the pitchers, the whole staff did really well tonight and it’s nice when the offense scores five runs for you early.”
Margevicius allowed six runs and eight hits in four-plus innings, struck out two and walked one.
He has three losses and a no-decision in his last four starts.
“I’ve been falling behind in counts,” Margevicius said. “Definitely part of the last game and this game, falling behind has not been good for me.”
KINSLER’S FINE
Warstic, a bat company co-owned by Padres second baseman Ian Kinsler, advertised a 20 percent off sale on Twitter and Instagram on Saturday to help raise funds to pay the fine levied against him by MLB for using profanity after hitting a three-run homer Thursday night. The promo code was FLIPOFF20, perhaps a reference to Kinsler’s bat flip after the homer. Kinsler said he used profanity to fire up his teammates, although many fans felt it was directed at him. The Twitter and Instagram posts were later deleted. According to Bleacher Report, Kinsler was fined between $7,500 and $10,000. He’s making $3.75 million this season as part of an $8 million, two-year deal. MLB declined to confirm the fine amount.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (2-4, 3.59), who also pitched at Grossmont High, is scheduled to start the series finale Sunday. He beat the Padres 1-0 at Petco Park on June 29, striking out five in seven innings.
Padres: Rookie RHP Cal Quantrill (0-1, 3.60) will rejoin the team to make his third career start. He made his most recent start on May 1 and optioned to Triple-A El Paso on May 7.
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Kinsler’s 3-run homer lifts Padres to 4-3 win vs Pirates
By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ian Kinsler hit a mighty three-run homer to put the San Diego Padres ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and then had a profane outburst as he crossed home and then again in the dugout.
Many fans on social media felt it was directed at them, and manager Andy Green said it “was not the right response.”
Kinsler, who hasn’t been a fan favorite as he’s struggled since joining the Padres on an $8 million, two-year deal, said otherwise.
“That was for my teammates,” Kinsler said after the 4-3 victory Thursday night. “It had nothing to do with the fans. It’s for my teammates. It’s an inside thing with them. Just trying to get everybody fired up. We had a tough road trip. I’m a passionate player. I try to get my teammates going. That was it.”
He declined to say exactly what he said.
“That’s why it’s inside,” he said. “We need the fans behind us. We need the city of San Diego to be passionate with us and on our side. Hopefully that’s the way they see this team.”
Kinsler’s homer and reaction overshadowed the Padres setting the major league record by going 8,020 games without a no-hitter since their inception. Then again, fans have been used to that since 1969.
Franmil Reyes also homered, connecting off San Diegan Trevor Williams an inning before the Pirates starter left with discomfort in his right side.
Green had a different take than Kinsler.
“I think we’re aware of what’s going on,” the manager said. “I understand the emotion of the game a little bit, the frustration he’s felt up to this point. I’m not excusing anything by any stretch, but understanding what it feels like to go to the plate every day and grind and struggle. The world we live in, you hear a lot of hostility, so some of that comes out at times.”
Green said the Padres have an “outstanding” fan base, and that fans have the right to express displeasure.
“We as professionals should handle that displeasure in a more positive way than it was handled today,” Green said. “With him, he knows that. He’s played the game a long time. … Clearly not expressed well today. Ultimately, though, he’s a passionate baseball player.”
Green said he’d talk with Kinsler about it.
Kinsler’s three-run shot off Richard Rodriguez (0-3) with two outs in the sixth gave the Padres a 4-2 lead and got them off the hook for some shoddy play. It was Kinsler’s fifth.
Gregory Polanco made it a one-run game with a homer to right in the seventh, his third.
Adam Frazier singled to left off lefty Eric Lauer with two outs in the third to extend the Padres’ streak of futility into record territory. The Padres remain the only major league team without a no-hitter. The previous longest streak of 8,019 games without a no-hitter from a franchise’s inception was by the New York Mets, who got their first no-hitter, by Johan Santana, on June 1, 2012.
“It was still kind of early in the game,” Frazier said. “It’s pretty cool to extend that streak. I didn’t know about it; just trying to get a hit. I’m glad we weren’t the team that let them break that record, or whatever you want to call it.”
The Padres have had pitchers take a no-no into the eighth inning or beyond several times since their expansion season of 1969 but have never completed one. Some fans feel the franchise is cursed because manger Preston Gomez lifted Clay Kirby after eight no-hit innings against the New York Mets on June 21, 1970.
“It’s not a record that we want. I think one’s coming soon,” Lauer said.
Adam Warren (3-1) pitched two-thirds of an inning for the win, and Kirby Yates pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 17th save.
Reyes homered into the Padres’ bullpen beyond the fence in left-center with one out in the third, his 13th.
The Pirates tied it in the fifth after the Padres gave them several extra chances, including when rookie Kevin Newman, who played at Poway High, doubled to shallow right on a ball that ticked off Kinsler’s glove as the second baseman tried to make a basket catch while right fielder Reyes and first baseman Eric Hosmer also converged on the ball. Newman went on to score on Frazier’s soft chopper to the right of the mound, beating Lauer’s throw home.
The Pirates went ahead 2-1 on an unearned run in the sixth on two singles, an error and a wild pitch.
Williams, who played at Rancho Bernardo High, left with two outs in the fourth after striking out Myers. He allowed one run and two hits, struck out five and walked one.
Williams loaded the bases with one out in the first on a walk, single and hit batter before striking out Alex Dickerson, who also played at Poway High, and getting Myers to ground out.
“I think it’s hard to evaluate the outing. He was competing like he always does. He was going out there, making pitches,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: Green said “it’d probably still be a little bit of a stretch” to expect rookie SS Fernando Tatis Jr., on the IL with a strained left hamstring, to return to the team before the end of this seven-game homestand. Green said Tatis, who was hurt on April 28, still isn’t running at 100%.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Jordan Lyles (3-1, 2.09 ERA), who pitched with San Diego for parts of the 2017 and 2018 seasons, is scheduled to start Friday night.
Padres: LHP Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 4.57) held the Pirates to one hit in five innings in a 4-3 victory at Petco Park on June 30.
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Greinke exits with abdominal tightness, D-backs rout Pirates
By JOSE M. ROMERO Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) — Zack Greinke was cruising along when he felt something wrong. Taking no chances, the Arizona Diamondbacks ace called it a day.
Greinke pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning before exiting with abdominal tightness and the Diamondbacks routed Chris Archer and the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-1.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Greinke would get an MRI on Friday. Arizona is off Thursday.
“It’s not too bad,” Greinke said. “Just didn’t seem like a good idea to try to push it.”
Greinke said the current situation seems less serious than the left oblique injury that cost him six weeks in 2016, though he thought about that at first.
“I just knew something was wrong and didn’t want to take the chance of hurting it more,” he said. “At first I thought it was an oblique thing, but it seems to be in a different spot.”
Greinke (6-1) allowed four hits in 7 2/3 innings, then walked off the mound with a trainer with a 2-2 count on Pirates reliever Chris Stratton. Greinke said he felt his injury during that at-bat.
“I’m always optimistic about things,” Lovullo said, admitting that if not for the injury he considered allowing Greinke to go after a complete game.
Greinke struck out five, walked none and kept up his recent run of success — he has a 1.09 ERA in his last six starts, allowing five earned runs in 41 1/3 innings. He also raised his scoreless innings streak against the Pirates to 21 1/3 innings.
“This is the most consistent that I’ve seen him. It’s angle of the fastball. It’s throwing fastballs to both sides of the plate, and he’s got three secondary pitches that he can throw at any time,” Lovullo said. “We get spoiled by him. We know that he’s extremely locked in right now.”
Blake Swihart hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run in the eighth, and Eduardo Escobar and Adam Jones also homered for the Diamondbacks, who went 6-1 against the Pirates this season. Jarrod Dyson had two hits, scored three runs and stole two bases.
Melky Cabrera drove in the Pirates’ run with a two-out single in the ninth.
Pirates pitcher Chris Archer’s first start since April 26, after which he went on the 10-day injured list with right thumb pain, didn’t go well. He walked the bases loaded in the first inning, and all three runners scored.
Archer (1-3) lasted just 3 2-3 innings, allowing six earned runs on four hits with four walks and a wild pitch.
Dyson came home on Ketel Marte’s soft single, Escobar scored on an error by third baseman Colin Moran and Nick Ahmed added a sacrifice fly to put Arizona ahead 3-0.
Archer rallied to strike out the side in the second inning, but the Diamondbacks plated four runs in the fourth, all with two outs.
“Poor. Very, very poor. I just didn’t have good command at all,” Archer said. “I don’t really know what to say other than that.
“They exploited my lack of control,” Archer added, saying his thumb did not affect him.
After Dyson’s single, Escobar hit his ninth homer of the season. Jones’ ninth homer curled inside the left-field foul pole and into the Diamondbacks bullpen in the fifth off Stratton.
“Home runs happen, but when you can score runs on some base hits, that’s when you know you’re offense is clicking,” Jones said.
Escobar doubled in Dyson for his third RBI of the game in the eighth. Swihart hit a long fly and when the ball caromed off the angled wall in right-center and eluded two outfielders, he scored standing up for his second career inside-the-park homer.
Josh Bell got two hits for the Pirates, extending his career-high hitting streak to 15 games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Archer’s return from injury led to the Pirates optioning RHP Clay Holmes to Triple-A Indianapolis. … OF Corey Dickerson (shoulder) is on track to throw long toss as soon as this weekend. … RHP Keone Kela (shoulder) could throw off a mound in the next few days.
Diamondbacks: OF David Peralta left the game after five innings with tightness on the right side of his upper back, replaced by Swihart in left field. Lovullo said he hopes some training room therapy will take care of Peralta’s issue. … RHP Taijuan Walker (elbow surgery) was scheduled to pitch four innings in an extended spring training game Wednesday at the team’s facility in nearby Scottsdale. But he threw just 17 pitches due to right shoulder soreness and was removed as a precaution, then had an MRI later Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Pirates: Pittsburgh begins a four-game series at San Diego on Thursday, with RHP Trevor Williams (2-1, 3.40 ERA) scheduled to start the opener. He’s pitched at least six innings in each of his eight starts this season.
Diamondbacks: RHP Merrill Kelly (3-4, 4.70 ERA) gets the ball at home on Friday against the San Francisco Giants, the opener of a three-game series. It’ll be his first career start against the Giants.
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