The slide continues

Monday, August 8, 2011 3:08 AM CDT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The fading Pittsburgh Pirates finished up the worst homestand in their 125-year history and lost their 10th straight game overall, beaten by Mat Latos and the San Diego Padres 7-3 Sunday.

Latos’ mastery continued the misery for the Pirates, who completed an 0-7 stay at PNC Park against the last-place Padres and Chicago Cubs, two teams that were a combined 39 games under .500 when the week began.

Pittsburgh was winless on a homestand of at least seven games for the first time in franchise history, STATS LLC said. No team in the majors has had a homestand that long without a win since Kansas City in May 2006.

The Pirates, in first place in the NL Central on July 26, were outscored 59-25 by the Cubs and Padres. The bad week came after they got swept in Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh will try again to break its skid Monday night at San Francisco against the World Series champion Giants.

A day after the Pirates held a players-only meeting following a 13-2 loss, they trailed 7-0 going into the bottom of the eighth.

The Padres got a run on a wild pitch by Daniel McCutchen and another that was set up by catcher Ryan Doumit’s throwing error on a pitchout, two plays that exemplified Pittsburgh’s recent futility.

Latos (6-11) allowed only two singles until Doumit and Pedro Alvarez singled to open the eighth. Brandon Wood followed with a home run off Chad Qualls.

Will Venable had three hits and drove in two runs and Logan Forsythe had three RBIs as the Padres completed their third sweep of the season. San Diego has won four in a row.

Playing without top hitter Chase Headley, who sustained a broken left little finger on Saturday, the Padres continued their offensive renaissance at the hands of the beleaguered Pirates.

San Diego came into the series last in the National League in average, runs, home runs and extra-base hits. They left it having scored 35 runs in three games.

This is the Pirates’ longest losing streak since a 12-game slide June 6-18, 2010, a season in which they lost 105 games.

The crowd of 35,601 meant a total of 112,618 saw the series, the fourth-largest in PNC Park history. While fans on Friday and Saturday often resorting to booing, Sunday’s scene never got ugly. Pirates fans were even given a reason to cheer when Wood homered, his seventh, cut San Diego’s lead to 7-3.

Pittsburgh’s Xavier Paul then singled with one out, but Qualls got the Pirates’ two best hitters, Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker, to ground out harmlessly to end the inning.

Forsythe, in the lineup to replace Headley at third base, had an RBI groundout in the second against Kevin Correia (12-10) and a two-run single in the sixth. Venable added a two-run double in the eighth.

Signed in the offseason as a free agent from San Diego, Correia had allowed one run on three hits through 5 2-3 innings before running into two-out trouble in the sixth. He was charged with four runs on five hits and four walks, falling to 2-8 at home this season.

NOTES: Headley was to be evaluated over the next few days before a decision was to be made about a possible trip to the disabled list. … The Padres improved to 25-17 in day games (they’re 26-47 at night) and have won six consecutive series finales. … Monday in San Francisco, the Pirates face RHP Ryan Vogelsong, who pitched for them from 2001-06 and was out of the majors until this season, when he is emerging as a possible Cy Young candidate. … Padres RHP Tim Stauffer is making his first career start in New York on Monday.

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CBSSports.com wire reports
Aug. 7, 2011

PITTSBURGH — Infielder Brandon Wood was asked if the Pittsburgh Pirates could glean anything positive from their just-completed homestand, one that goes into the books as the worst in 125 years of franchise history.

“Well,” Wood said, pondering the team’s 10-game losing streak, “this is going to end at some point.”

It surely will, but it doesn’t feel that way right now for the fading Pirates.

Mat Latos and the San Diego Padres beat Pittsburgh 7-3 Sunday. In less than two weeks, the Pirates have sunk from first place in the NL Central to 10 games behind.

Latos’ mastery continued the misery for the Pirates, who completed an 0-7 stay at PNC Park against the last-place Padres and Chicago Cubs, two teams that were a combined 39 games under .500 when the week began.

Pittsburgh was winless on a homestand of at least seven games for the first time in franchise history, STATS LLC said. No team in the majors has had a homestand that long without a win since Kansas City in May 2006.

“It’s obviously not easy right now,” second baseman Neil Walker said. “As baseball players, we’ve all gone through some sort of stretch like this, whether it was from a personal or a team standpoint. Nobody likes the feeling that we have right now.

“It’s easy to let yourself go to a negative place when you’re like this, but … we’re still playing the same game we did when we were winning games. It’s just been a little tougher for us.”

Try a lot tougher. The Pirates, leading the division on July 26, were outscored 59-25 by the Cubs and Padres. The bad week came after they got swept in Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh will try again to break its skid Monday night at San Francisco against the World Series champion Giants.

A day after the Pirates held a players-only meeting following a 13-2 loss, they trailed 7-0 going into the bottom of the eighth.

The Padres got a run on a wild pitch by Daniel McCutchen and another that was set up by catcher Ryan Doumit’s throwing error on a pitchout, two plays that exemplified Pittsburgh’s recent futility.

Latos (6-11) allowed only two singles until Doumit and Pedro Alvarez singled to open the eighth. Brandon Wood followed with a home run off Chad Qualls.

Will Venable had three hits and drove in two runs and Logan Forsythe had three RBI as the Padres completed their third sweep of the season. San Diego has won four in a row.

Playing without top hitter Chase Headley, who sustained a broken left little finger on Saturday, the Padres continued their offensive renaissance at the hands of the beleaguered Pirates.

“We got off to a good start there, and some of their guys didn’t have their best stuff,” Venable said. “We consistently, throughout the lineup, put good swings on those mistakes and we were able to push some runs across.”

San Diego came into the series last in the National League in average, runs, home runs and extra-base hits. The Padres left it having scored 35 runs in three games, tied for the second-most in any three-game stretch in franchise history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

San Diego has never scored more runs in a three-game series.

“Offensively, the three games speak for themselves,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “The collection of at bats from top to bottom were outstanding.”

This is the Pirates’ longest losing streak since a 12-game slide June 6-18, 2010, a season in which they lost 105 games.

The crowd of 35,601 meant a total of 112,618 saw the series, the fourth-largest in PNC Park history. While fans on Friday and Saturday often resorting to booing, Sunday’s scene never got ugly. Pirates fans were even given a reason to cheer when Wood’s homer, his seventh, cut San Diego’s lead to 7-3.

Pittsburgh’s Xavier Paul then singled with one out, but Qualls got the Pirates’ two best hitters, Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker, to ground out harmlessly to end the inning.

“We like playing here,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “We just didn’t do well this week.

“I never thought we’d throw up a doughnut at home.”

Forsythe, in the lineup to replace Headley at third base, had an RBI groundout in the second against Kevin Correia (12-10) and a two-run single in the sixth. Venable added a two-run double in the eighth.

Signed in the offseason as a free agent from San Diego, Correia had allowed one run on three hits through 5 2/3 innings before running into two-out trouble in the sixth. He was charged with four runs on five hits and four walks, falling to 2-8 at home this season.

“I threw the ball pretty well up until there were two outs and nobody on in the sixth,” Correia said. “It’s just hard, in the situation we’re in and the results of the games, to feel good about anything.”

Notes

• Headley was to be evaluated over the next few days before a decision was to be made about a possible trip to the disabled list.
• The Padres improved to 25-17 in day games [they're 26-47 at night] and have won six consecutive series finales.
• Monday in San Francisco, the Pirates face RHP Ryan Vogelsong, who pitched for them from 2001-06 and was out of the majors until this season, when he is emerging as a possible Cy Young candidate.
• Padres RHP Tim Stauffer is making his first career start in New York on Monday.

Kyle Blanks hit a grand slam and drove in five runs and the San Diego Padres again beat free-falling Pittsburgh, 13-2 on Saturday.

“Losing nine is no fun for anybody,” starter Paul Maholm said. “But nobody’s holding a pity party for us. I’m sure there’s a lot of people that are having fun with the fact we’re losing, but we’re just going to get over it and come back tomorrow and expect to win.”

Last in the National League in runs and homers, San Diego set a club record for runs in consecutive games with 28 — they won 15-5 Friday — according to information provided by the Pirates from the Elias Sports Bureau. The Padres hit a grand slam in consecutive games for the first time in 20 years.

Fans at PNC Park booed as the game got out of hand, leaving Pittsburgh 0-6 on its homestand. Blanks’ slam off Chris Resop in the seventh inning made it 11-1.

The Pirates were in first place on July 26, but have dropped 11 of 12 while plummeting out of the NL Central lead. Pittsburgh fell nine games behind division-leading Milwaukee, prompting a players-only team meeting after the game.

“We’ve got to get back to the attitude we had at the beginning of the season,” outfielder Garrett Jones said. “Get our mindset back to where it was. Get that swagger —that was the word we were using — and that attitude of ‘We’re gonna win every game.’”

Saddled with a major North American professional sports record 18 consecutive losing years, the Pirates were as many as seven games over .500 in July. But the team’s sudden slump has been just as stunning as its ascension to respectability after losing 105 games in 2010.

“They’re the same guys who were lighting some things up and people were cheering for and writing good stories about,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Right now, we’re battling all over the place. It seems real hard for somebody different every night where there’s some adversity that comes into play, so we’re all in it together. We’ve got to keep fighting for one another and keep fighting through it.”

The last-place Padres have pounded Pirates pitching for five home runs in winning the first two games of the series and have won three in a row overall.

The Padres had not hit a grand slam this season until Chase Headley did it Friday night. After hitting his first homer the day before, Blanks’ shot Saturday marked the first time San Diego had hit slams on consecutive days since Aug. 13-14, 1991, when Fred McGriff had both. Cleveland was the most recent team to do it, Sept. 17-18 of last season.

“We talk about contagious, and you see that happening a little bit the last couple of nights,” San Diego manager Bud Black said. “There’s a feeling amongst the lineup that they are going to give a good at bat and the result is going to be there.”

Rookie Cory Luebke (4-6) struck out a career-high nine and allowed one run over seven innings. He also had two hits and scored a run to help the Padres win their eighth straight game in Pittsburgh.

Orlando Hudson had three hits and scored the game’s first run on Blanks’ triple in the second. Rob Johnson had three RBIs for San Diego, which had scored a total of 28 runs over its eight previous games before this series.

Luebke came in having lost his previous three starts. He allowed five hits and no walks.

“We got ahead tonight,” Luebke said, “and with me and (Johnson) on the same page all night, when you get that kind of flow with your catcher, it just makes things easier for everybody.”

Maholm (6-12) gave up a season-high seven earned runs and tied a season high for hits allowed with 10. Pittsburgh has lost each of his five starts since the All-Star break.

Jones had a solo home run for the Pirates in the eighth, his 13th and third of the homestand.

“Obviously, we’re not playing well,” Maholm said. “Obviously, we’ve lost some games, and I think everybody on the field was pressing.

“I’ve gone through a few of these losing streaks like this, and whenever it’s going bad, it’s going bad,” he said.

NOTES: According to Elias, the previous Padres record for runs in consecutive games was 27 on Aug. 22-23, 2002. … The Pirates drew their 14th sellout of the year at PNC Park, the most since the stadium’s inaugural season in 2001. … The Pirates had OF Xavier Paul warming up in the bullpen during the ninth inning. … San Diego has never lost a series at PNC Park, winning 25 of 34 games played here. … Former Padres RHP Kevin Correia will face San Diego for the first time Sunday since signing as a free agent with the Pirates in the offseason. Correia was the winning pitcher in San Diego on May 4 but is only 2-7 at home this season.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — For the second consecutive night, the free-falling Pittsburgh Pirates were no match for the light-hitting and last-place San Diego Padres.

Kyle Blanks hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Padres sent Pittsburgh to its ninth straight loss, 13-2 on Saturday.

Last in the National League in runs and homers, San Diego set a club record for runs in consecutive games with 28, team said in citing the Elias Sports Bureau. The Padres hit a grand slam in consecutive games for the first time in 20 years.

“We talk about contagious, and you see that happening a little bit the last couple of nights,” San Diego manager Bud Black said. “There’s a feeling amongst the lineup that they are going to give a good at bat and the result is going to be there.”

There was an opposite feeling in the other dugout. The Pirates were in first place on July 26, but have dropped 11 of 12 while plummeting out of the NL Central lead. Pittsburgh fell nine games behind division-leading Milwaukee, prompting a players-only team meeting after the game.

“We’ve got to get back to the attitude we had at the beginning of the season,” outfielder Garrett Jones said. “Get our mindset back to where it was. Get that swagger —that was the word we were using — and that attitude of ‘We’re gonna win every game.’”

Fans at PNC Park booed as the game got out of hand, leaving Pittsburgh at 0-6 on its homestand. Blanks’ slam off Chris Resop in the seventh inning made it 11-1.

Saddled with a major North American professional sports record 18 consecutive losing years, the Pirates were as many as seven games over .500 in July. But the team’s sudden slump has been just as stunning as its ascension to respectability after losing 105 games in 2010.

“Losing nine is no fun for anybody. But nobody’s holding a pity party for us,” losing pitcher Paul Maholm said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of people that are having fun with the fact we’re losing, but we’re just going to get over it and come back tomorrow and expect to win.”

San Diego has pounded Pirates pitching for five home runs in winning the first two games of the series and have won three in a row overall.

The Padres had not hit a grand slam this season until Chase Headley did it Friday night. After hitting his first homer the day before, Blanks’ shot Saturday marked the first time San Diego had hit slams on consecutive days since Aug. 13-14, 1991, when Fred McGriff had both. Cleveland was the most recent team to do it, Sept. 17-18 of last season.

“I feel like the last couple of days before we came on the road I was making some strides in the cage, figuring out some things and applying them in the game,” Blanks said. “Now the results do start to matter, and I feel good. I had a couple of good nights in a row, and I just want to continue.”

Rookie Cory Luebke (4-6) struck out a career-high nine and allowed one run over seven innings. He also had two hits and scored a run to help the Padres win their eighth straight game in Pittsburgh.

Orlando Hudson had three hits and scored the game’s first run on Blanks’ triple in the second. Rob Johnson had three RBIs for San Diego, which had scored a total of 28 runs over its eight previous games before this series.

Luebke came in having lost his previous three starts. He allowed five hits and no walks.

“We got ahead tonight,” Luebke said, “and with me and (Johnson) on the same page all night, when you get that kind of flow with your catcher, it just makes things easier for everybody.”

Maholm (6-12) gave up a season-high seven earned runs and tied a season high for hits allowed with 10. Pittsburgh has lost each of his five starts since the All-Star break.

Jones had a solo home run for the Pirates in the eighth, his 13th and third of the homestand.

NOTES: According to Elias, the previous Padres record for runs in consecutive games was 27 on Aug. 22-23, 2002. … The Pirates drew their 14th sellout of the year at PNC Park, the most since the stadium’s inaugural season in 2001. … The Pirates had OF Xavier Paul warming up in the bullpen during the ninth inning. … San Diego has never lost a series at PNC Park, winning 25 of 34 games played here. … Former Padres RHP Kevin Correia will face San Diego for the first time Sunday since signing as a free agent with the Pirates in the offseason. Correia was the winning pitcher in San Diego on May 4 but is only 2-7 at home this season.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Aug. 6, 2011

PITTSBURGH — For the second consecutive night, the free-falling Pittsburgh Pirates were no match for the light-hitting and last-place San Diego Padres.

Kyle Blanks hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Padres sent Pittsburgh to its ninth straight loss, 13-2 on Saturday.

Last in the National League in runs and homers, San Diego set a club record for runs in consecutive games with 28, team said in citing the Elias Sports Bureau. The Padres hit a grand slam in consecutive games for the first time in 20 years.

“We talk about contagious, and you see that happening a little bit the last couple of nights,” San Diego manager Bud Black said. “There’s a feeling amongst the lineup that they are going to give a good at bat and the result is going to be there.”

There was an opposite feeling in the other dugout. The Pirates were in first place on July 26, but have dropped 11 of 12 while plummeting out of the NL Central lead. Pittsburgh fell nine games behind division-leading Milwaukee, prompting a players-only team meeting after the game.

“We’ve got to get back to the attitude we had at the beginning of the season,” outfielder Garrett Jones said. “Get our mindset back to where it was. Get that swagger — that was the word we were using — and that attitude of ‘We’re gonna win every game.”‘

Fans at PNC Park booed as the game got out of hand, leaving Pittsburgh at 0-6 on its homestand. Blanks’ slam off Chris Resop in the seventh inning made it 11-1.

Saddled with a major North American professional sports record 18 consecutive losing years, the Pirates were as many as seven games over .500 in July. But the team’s sudden slump has been just as stunning as its ascension to respectability after losing 105 games in 2010.

“Losing nine is no fun for anybody. But nobody’s holding a pity party for us,” losing pitcher Paul Maholm said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of people that are having fun with the fact we’re losing, but we’re just going to get over it and come back tomorrow and expect to win.”

San Diego has pounded Pirates pitching for five home runs in winning the first two games of the series and have won three in a row overall.

The Padres had not hit a grand slam this season until Chase Headley did it Friday night. After hitting his first homer the day before, Blanks’ shot Saturday marked the first time San Diego had hit slams on consecutive days since Aug. 13-14, 1991, when Fred McGriff had both. Cleveland was the most recent team to do it, Sept. 17-18 of last season.

“I feel like the last couple of days before we came on the road I was making some strides in the cage, figuring out some things and applying them in the game,” Blanks said. “Now the results do start to matter, and I feel good. I had a couple of good nights in a row, and I just want to continue.”

Rookie Cory Luebke (4-6) struck out a career-high nine and allowed one run over seven innings. He also had two hits and scored a run to help the Padres win their eighth straight game in Pittsburgh.

Orlando Hudson had three hits and scored the game’s first run on Blanks’ triple in the second. Rob Johnson had three RBI for San Diego, which had scored a total of 28 runs over its eight previous games before this series.

Luebke came in having lost his previous three starts. He allowed five hits and no walks.

“We got ahead tonight,” Luebke said, “and with me and [Johnson] on the same page all night, when you get that kind of flow with your catcher, it just makes things easier for everybody.”

Maholm (6-12) gave up a season-high seven earned runs and tied a season high for hits allowed with 10. Pittsburgh has lost each of his five starts since the All-Star break.

Jones had a solo home run for the Pirates in the eighth, his 13th and third of the homestand.

Notes

• According to Elias, the previous Padres record for runs in consecutive games was 27 on Aug. 22-23, 2002.
• The Pirates drew their 14th sellout of the year at PNC Park, the most since the stadium’s inaugural season in 2001.
• The Pirates had OF Xavier Paul warming up in the bullpen during the ninth inning.
• San Diego has never lost a series at PNC Park, winning 25 of 34 games played here.
• Former Padres RHP Kevin Correia will face San Diego for the first time Sunday since signing as a free agent with the Pirates in the offseason. Correia was the winning pitcher in San Diego on May 4 but is only 2-7 at home this season.

Last in the National League in runs and homers, San Diego set a club record for runs in consecutive games with 28, team said in citing the Elias Sports Bureau. The Padres hit a grand slam in consecutive games for the first time in 20 years.

“We talk about contagious, and you see that happening a little bit the last couple of nights,” San Diego manager Bud Black said. “There’s a feeling amongst the lineup that they are going to give a good at bat and the result is going to be there.”

There was an opposite feeling in the other dugout. The Pirates were in first place on July 26, but have dropped 11 of 12 while plummeting out of the NL Central lead. Pittsburgh fell nine games behind division-leading Milwaukee, prompting a players-only team meeting after the game.

“We’ve got to get back to the attitude we had at the beginning of the season,” outfielder Garrett Jones said. “Get our mindset back to where it was. Get that swagger —that was the word we were using — and that attitude of ‘We’re gonna win every game.’”

Fans at PNC Park booed as the game got out of hand, leaving Pittsburgh at 0-6 on its homestand. Blanks’ slam off Chris Resop in the seventh inning made it 11-1.

Saddled with a major North American professional sports record 18 consecutive losing years, the Pirates were as many as seven games over .500 in July. But the team’s sudden slump has been just as stunning as its ascension to respectability after losing 105 games in 2010.

“Losing nine is no fun for anybody. But nobody’s holding a pity party for us,” losing pitcher Paul Maholm said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of people that are having fun with the fact we’re losing, but we’re just going to get over it and come back tomorrow and expect to win.”

San Diego has pounded Pirates pitching for five home runs in winning the first two games of the series and have won three in a row overall.

The Padres had not hit a grand slam this season until Chase Headley did it Friday night. After hitting his first homer the day before, Blanks’ shot Saturday marked the first time San Diego had hit slams on consecutive days since Aug. 13-14, 1991, when Fred McGriff had both. Cleveland was the most recent team to do it, Sept. 17-18 of last season.

“I feel like the last couple of days before we came on the road I was making some strides in the cage, figuring out some things and applying them in the game,” Blanks said. “Now the results do start to matter, and I feel good. I had a couple of good nights in a row, and I just want to continue.”

Rookie Cory Luebke (4-6) struck out a career-high nine and allowed one run over seven innings. He also had two hits and scored a run to help the Padres win their eighth straight game in Pittsburgh.

Orlando Hudson had three hits and scored the game’s first run on Blanks’ triple in the second. Rob Johnson had three RBIs for San Diego, which had scored a total of 28 runs over its eight previous games before this series.

Luebke came in having lost his previous three starts. He allowed five hits and no walks.

“We got ahead tonight,” Luebke said, “and with me and (Johnson) on the same page all night, when you get that kind of flow with your catcher, it just makes things easier for everybody.”

Maholm (6-12) gave up a season-high seven earned runs and tied a season high for hits allowed with 10. Pittsburgh has lost each of his five starts since the All-Star break.

Jones had a solo home run for the Pirates in the eighth, his 13th and third of the homestand.

NOTES: According to Elias, the previous Padres record for runs in consecutive games was 27 on Aug. 22-23, 2002. … The Pirates drew their 14th sellout of the year at PNC Park, the most since the stadium’s inaugural season in 2001. … The Pirates had OF Xavier Paul warming up in the bullpen during the ninth inning. … San Diego has never lost a series at PNC Park, winning 25 of 34 games played here. … Former Padres RHP Kevin Correia will face San Diego for the first time Sunday since signing as a free agent with the Pirates in the offseason. Correia was the winning pitcher in San Diego on May 4 but is only 2-7 at home this season.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 5 (UPI) — Chase Headley’s grand slam was one of four San Diego home runs Friday that sent the San Diego Padres to a 15-5 pounding of struggling Pittsburgh.

The Pirates lost their eighth straight game despite matching San Diego’s 15 hits.

Pittsburgh held a 4-3 lead heading into the sixth inning but the Padres scored six times in that frame. Headley finished things off with his grand slam, his fourth homer of the season.

Kyle Banks added a solo homer for San Diego in the fifth, Aaron Cunningham had a solo shot during a three-run seventh and Jesus Guzman delivered a two-run blast in the eighth.

Headley wound up with five RBI and Luis Martinez had three in San Diego’s largest run production of the season to date.

Pittsburgh has just one victory in its last 11 games, the current skid beginning July 25 when the Pirates suffered a 3-1 loss to Atlanta in a game decided by a questionable call at the plate.

Aaron Harang (10-3) picked up Friday’s win, surviving five innings while giving up four runs on 13 hits.

Jeff Karstens (8-6) went just 3 1/3 innings in taking the loss, surrendering nine runs on nine hits.

Pittsburgh right-hander Jeff Karstens takes the mound
tonight with a chance to stop a freefall, as the Pirates host the San Diego
Padres in the opener of a three-game weekend set at PNC Park.

The Pirates were on the short end of a four-game sweep against the Chicago
Cubs on Thursday, when Marlon Byrd had the 1,000th hit of his career in the
fourth and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning
as the visitors won, 7-6.

Chicago swept four games in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1959.

James McDonald pitched seven innings and gave up four runs on four hits and
added a bases-clearing double for the Pirates, who have dropped a season-high
seven straight games.

Garrett Jones had two doubles and a run scored while Daniel McCutchen (3-3)
was tagged with the loss for giving up three runs in the eighth without
recording an out.

The slumped has pushed the Pirates into third place in the National League’s
Central Division, where they sit seven games behind the Milwaukee Brewers and
just a half-game up on fourth-place Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh is 26-29 at home this season and 25-20 against division foes.

Karstens, meanwhile, is 0-3 lifetime against the Padres in five appearances
and hasn’t won in 2011 since a complete-game effort beat Houston, 4-0, on July
15.

He’s 0-1 with a pair of no-decisions since and has given up 20 hits and nine
runs in 19 innings against Cincinnati, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

He’s 4-3 in 11 home appearances this season with a 1.96 earned run average
across 64 1/3 innings.

Pittsburgh is 12-11 in the 23 games Karstens has pitched this season.

For the Padres, San Diego native Aaron Harang pitches for the first time since
a 10-6 loss to Colorado ended a five-decision win streak.

Previously, he’d not lost since dropping a 4-3 verdict to the Pirates on May 2
in San Diego after allowing four runs on five hits in five innings.

He’s a solid 13-6 lifetime against the Padres in 23 starts with a 4.19 ERA in
148 1/3 innings.

San Diego is 12-6 in the games Harang has started this season.

On Wednesday in San Diego, Jason Bartlett homered to highlight a three-hit
performance, helping the Padres avoid a sweep with a 3-0 victory over the
Dodgers.

While San Diego plated only three runs, Tim Stauffer and the rest of the
Padres pitching staff ensured a victory by holding Los Angeles scoreless.

Stauffer (7-8) gave up six hits and one walk in 6 1/3 innings, while Josh
Spence got San Diego out of a bases-loaded situation in the seventh. Chad
Qualls and Heath Bell finished the game to secure San Diego’s third win in
nine games.

Pittsburgh won two of three games at San Diego from May 2-4.

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

SAN DIEGO — Rookie Juan Nicasio was in line for his first road win before the Colorado Rockies fell apart.

Nicasio pitched seven strong innings but the bullpen couldn’t hold it as the San Diego Padres rallied for six runs in the eighth inning to avoid the three-game sweep with an 8-3 win on Sunday.

Once Nicasio turned a 3-2 lead over to the bullpen in the eighth, it took three relievers to get out of the inning as the Padres batted around.

“In the eighth inning, we experienced some growing pains and that may not be the last time we see that,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “You’re going to see moments of brilliance, and you’re going to see mishaps like you did (Sunday).”

Jesus Guzman drove in three runs, including the go-ahead run in the eighth. Guzman’s single in the eighth off Matt Belisle came on a day when San Diego dealt with the distraction of two trades in the final hour before the non-waiver trading deadline.

Right-handed set up man Mike Adams was dealt to the Texas Rangers and outfielder Ryan Ludwick went to the Pittsburgh Pirates minutes before first pitch. Ludwick was scratched about two minutes before the start of the game and was in uniform in the dugout hugging teammates and coaches.

Nicasio struck out a career-high 10 as he limited the Padres to two runs, one unearned, on five hits and walked one.

Chad Qualls (5-5) pitched one inning for San Diego, which lost eight of its previous 10.

Jason Bartlett led off the eighth with a walk against Rex Brothers (1-1), who failed to retire a batter. Chase Headley followed with a triple into the right-field gap to tie the score at 3-all. Kyle Blanks then drew a walk, bringing on Belisle, who allowed Guzman’s go-ahead, RBI single.

Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo tried to pick Blanks off second base but threw the ball into center field, allowing both runners to move up. After one out, Logan Forsythe followed with a sacrifice fly, Luis Martinez had an RBI single and pinch-hitter Rob Johnson had a two-run double. Edgmer Escalona came on to get the final out.

“I didn’t hold up my end of the deal,” Brothers said. “After that long at-bat with Bartlett, I don’t know why, but the execution wasn’t there.”

The Rockies stranded nine runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the third inning. Alfonzo, who had two hits, stranded five runners, including three in scoring position.

Nicasio had been 0-3 with an 8.75 ERA in his first five road starts.

Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Spilborghs and Chris Nelson each had one RBI for the Rockies, who finished with 10 singles.

Guzman drove in his first two runs with a groundout in the fourth and a two-out double in the sixth.

Wade LeBlanc started for the Padres after being recalled from Triple-A Tucson to replace Dustin Moseley. The left-hander gave up three runs on nine hits in six innings.

NOTES: The Rockies still have not swept a three-game series this season. … Padres RF Chris Denorfia (right hamstring strain) left the game in the sixth inning. … To correspond with the trades of Adams and Ludwick, San Diego will recall RHP Erik Hamren from Double-A San Antonio and OF Aaron Cunningham from Triple-A Tucson.

Once Nicasio turned a 3-2 lead over to the bullpen in the eighth, it took three relievers to get out of the inning as the Padres batted around.

“In the eighth inning, we experienced some growing pains and that may not be the last time we see that,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “You’re going to see moments of brilliance, and you’re going to see mishaps like you did (Sunday).”

Jesus Guzman drove in three runs, including the go-ahead run in the eighth. Guzman’s single in the eighth off Matt Belisle came on a day when San Diego dealt with the distraction of two trades in the final hour before the non-waiver trading deadline.

Right-handed set up man Mike Adams was dealt to the Texas Rangers and outfielder Ryan Ludwick went to the Pittsburgh Pirates minutes before first pitch. Ludwick was scratched about two minutes before the start of the game and was in uniform in the dugout hugging teammates and coaches.

Nicasio struck out a career-high 10 as he limited the Padres to two runs, one unearned, on five hits and walked one.

Chad Qualls (5-5) pitched one inning for San Diego, which lost eight of its previous 10.

Jason Bartlett led off the eighth with a walk against Rex Brothers (1-1), who failed to retire a batter. Chase Headley followed with a triple into the right-field gap to tie the score at 3-all. Kyle Blanks then drew a walk, bringing on Belisle, who allowed Guzman’s go-ahead, RBI single.

Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo tried to pick Blanks off second base but threw the ball into center field, allowing both runners to move up. After one out, Logan Forsythe followed with a sacrifice fly, Luis Martinez had an RBI single and pinch-hitter Rob Johnson had a two-run double. Edgmer Escalona came on to get the final out.

“I didn’t hold up my end of the deal,” Brothers said. “After that long at-bat with Bartlett, I don’t know why, but the execution wasn’t there.”

The Rockies stranded nine runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the third inning. Alfonzo, who had two hits, stranded five runners, including three in scoring position.

Nicasio had been 0-3 with an 8.75 ERA in his first five road starts.

Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Spilborghs and Chris Nelson each had one RBI for the Rockies, who finished with 10 singles.

Guzman drove in his first two runs with a groundout in the fourth and a two-out double in the sixth.

Wade LeBlanc started for the Padres after being recalled from Triple-A Tucson to replace Dustin Moseley. The left-hander gave up three runs on nine hits in six innings.

NOTES: The Rockies still have not swept a three-game series this season. … Padres RF Chris Denorfia (right hamstring strain) left the game in the sixth inning. … To correspond with the trades of Adams and Ludwick, San Diego will recall RHP Erik Hamren from Double-A San Antonio and OF Aaron Cunningham from Triple-A Tucson.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

“A tumultuous day for sure,” San Diego manager Bud Black said. “It was nice to come back in the eighth with those runs. It was an emotional day for a lot of us.”

Closer Heath Bell, who was the heavy subject of trade talk for weeks, was surprised to still be in the Padres’ clubhouse.

“I pretty much thought I was gone,” he said. “I thought there was a small, small chance. But I was just kind of figuring where I was going.”

Bell figured for days he was headed to the Texas Rangers. But it was his bullpen mate, Adams, who was dealt to the Rangers with Ludwick going to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ludwick was scratched about two minutes before the start of the game and was in uniform in the dugout hugging teammates and coaches.

Jimenez, who was traded to the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night, was removed after pitching just the first inning Saturday night once the deal was finalized.

Bell, who is a free agent at season’s end, pitched the ninth inning Sunday as the San Diego avoided a three-game sweep.

“It was nice to go 1-2-3 especially with all the stress of the last couple of weeks, with the stress of the last day or two,” Bell said.

Jesus Guzman drove in three runs, including the go-ahead run off Matt Belisle in a six-run eighth inning, as the Padres rallied for an emotional win.

“I’m glad for Mike going to Texas, but it’s always tough when you lose teammates,” Bell said.

Bell, who has 120 saves in his three seasons as San Diego’s closer, said he was glad to still be with the Padres.

“At the end of the day, this is really where I want to be,” said Bell, who told general manager Jed Hoyer before the game he is open to signing a deal with a “discount.”

The late Padres’ rally ruined a solid outing by Colorado rookie Juan Nicasio, who struck out a career-high 10 in seven strong innings. Nicasio limited the Padres to two runs, one unearned run, on five hits and walked one.

“Unfortunately, we let them hang around and we didn’t get it done on the mound,” Colorado manager Jim Tracy said.

Chad Qualls (5-5) pitched one inning for the win.

San Diego, which lost eight of its previous 10, scored six runs in the eighth to erase Colorado’s 3-2 lead.

Jason Bartlett led off with a walk against Rex Brothers (1-1), who failed to retire a batter. Chase Headley followed with a triple into the right-field gap to tie the score at 3-all. Kyle Blanks then drew a walk, bringing on Belisle, who allowed Guzman’s go-ahead, RBI single.

Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo tried to pick Blanks off second base but threw the ball into center field, allowing both runners to move up. After one out, Logan Forsythe followed with a sacrifice fly, Luis Martinez had an RBI single and pinch-hitter Rob Johnson had a two-run double.

“I didn’t hold up my end of the deal,” Brothers said. “After that long at-bat with Bartlett, I don’t know why, but the execution wasn’t there.”

The Rockies stranded nine runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the third inning. Alfonzo, who had two hits, stranded five runners, including three in scoring position.

Nicasio had been 0-3 with an 8.75 ERA in his first five road starts.

Tulowitzki, Ryan Spilborghs and Chris Nelson each had one RBI for the Rockies, who finished with 10 singles.

Guzman drove in his first two runs with a groundout in the fourth and a two-out double in the sixth.

Wade LeBlanc started for the Padres after being recalled from Triple-A Tucson to replace Dustin Moseley. The left-hander gave up three runs on nine hits in six innings.

NOTES: The Rockies still have not swept a three-game series this season. … Padres RF Chris Denorfia (right hamstring strain) left the game in the sixth inning. … To correspond with the trades of Adams and Ludwick, San Diego will recall RHP Erik Hamren from Double-A San Antonio and OF Aaron Cunningham from Triple-A Tucson.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In a disappointing season, the San Diego Padres have been able to rely on their bullpen.

Not against the Phillies.

Michael Martinez hit a tiebreaking three-run homer, Chase Utley connected twice and the Phillies beat San Diego for the ninth straight time, 8-6 on Saturday.

The Padres’ relievers entered with a 2.71 ERA, but Chad Qualls (4-5) allowed three homers in one-third of an inning.

“We’re leading the majors in bullpen ERA,” manager Bud Black said. “That’s a strong statement about our bullpen.”

Pinch-hitter Ryan Howard also went deep for NL East-leading Philadelphia, hitting a tying solo shot off Qualls that ignited a five-run seventh. Michael Stutes (5-1) allowed one run in 1 1-3 innings in relief of Kyle Kendrick, and Ryan Madson finished for his 17th save in 18 chances.

Cameron Maybin and Chase Headley hit homers for the Padres, who haven’t beaten the Phillies since last June 7. They were swept by Philadelphia in a four-game series in San Diego in April.

“It’s tough when you fight back and take the lead you obviously want to win,” Headley said.

Qualls (4-5) had allowed just one homer this season in 48 1-3 innings before the Phillies hit three. He gave up five runs and four hits.

“They jumped on a couple of first-pitch fastballs,” Black said. “The killer was the homer to Martinez. It was a slider that hung.”

Padres starter Mat Latos pitched well except for one mistake to Utley. He allowed three runs and five hits in six innings, striking out seven.

Maybin’s RBI single in the seventh off Stutes put the Padres up 4-3. Logan Forsythe led off with a triple high off the scoreboard fence in right. Stutes struck out Rob Johnson and retired pinch-hitter Jesus Guzman on a popup. But Maybin hit a hard one-hopper off diving shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ glove to knock in the go-ahead run.

Howard then hit the first pitch from Qualls into the seats in left-center to tie it at 4. Pinch-hitter Ross Gload followed with a double down the right-field line. After Rollins walked, Martinez fouled off two bunt attempts. The runners moved up on a wild pitch, so Martinez got the green light to swing away.

He ripped a drive into the seats in right for his second career homer — his first was a three-run shot last Sunday at the New York Mets — to give the Phillies a 7-4 lead. Martinez, a Rule 5 pickup, has filled in nicely for injured All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco. He’s batting .294 (15 for 51) with 15 RBIs in his last 13 games.

“He’s hot right now, he’s getting big hits and getting the chance to play,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “Hope he continues hitting like that.”

Utley chased Qualls with a solo homer that made it 8-4. It was his 19th career multihomer game and first this season.

Antonio Bastardo allowed a run in the eighth and left with the bases loaded and two outs. David Herndon came in and walked pinch-hitter Alberto Gonzalez to force in a run that got the Padres within 8-6. But he retired Maybin on a bouncer to the mound to end the inning. Bastardo, who is 7 for 7 in save chances, entered with a 0.99 ERA and left at 1.46.

Kendrick was cruising with a two-hitter through five before running into trouble. Latos helped himself with a single to start the sixth. Maybin hit the next pitch just inside the foul pole in left to cut it to 3-2. One out later, Headley tied it with a drive into the left-field seats. Kendrick couldn’t get out of the inning after giving up a two-out single to Kyle Blanks. He allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings.

It was 100 degrees when the game started and it showed in the stands. Despite the 187th straight sellout, including postseason play, at Citizens Bank Park, there were plenty of empty seats in the upper levels.

Manuel rested Howard, so he switched his lineup up a bit. Shane Victorino batted third for just the second time all year and Utley hit cleanup for the first time. It paid off right away in the first inning.

Rollins led off with a double and Victorino walked with one out. Utley then ripped an opposite-field shot just over the flower bed beyond the left-field wall to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

Notes: Padres RF Will Venable was scratched from the lineup because of sore hamstrings. … Maybin has a nine-game hitting streak and he’s stolen a base in five straight. Only Dave Roberts (2006) and Alan Wiggins (1983) stole bases in that many consecutive games for the Padres. … Forsythe’s triple was his first in the majors. …A Padres pitcher allowed three homers in an inning for the first time since reliever Brian Sweeney did it on July 26, 2006 in the eighth inning at San Francisco in a 9-3 loss.

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Now that he has the bat flip down, Michael Martinez(notes)
needs to work on bunting.

Martinez hit a tiebreaking three-run homer after twice failing to sacrifice,
Chase Utley(notes) connected twice and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego
Padres for the ninth straight time, 8-6 on Saturday.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Howard(notes) also went deep, hitting a tying solo shot off Chad
Qualls(notes) that ignited a five-run seventh. Michael Stutes(notes) (5-1) allowed one run in
1 1-3 innings in relief of Kyle Kendrick(notes), and Ryan Madson(notes) finished for his 17th
save in 18 chances.

“It was huge,” manager Charlie Manuel said of Martinez’s homer. “But at the
same time, playing small ball …”

Manuel didn’t complete the thought, though he added Martinez “also has to
bunt.”

Martinez doesn’t get much of a chance to speak to reporters, so he didn’t
stick around long after the game to talk about his long ball.

Cameron Maybin(notes) and Chase Headley(notes) hit homers for the Padres, who haven’t
beaten the Phillies since last June 7. They were swept by Philadelphia in a
four-game series in San Diego in April.

Qualls (4-5) had allowed just one homer this season in 48 1-3 innings before
the Phillies hit three. He gave up five runs and four hits while retiring just
one batter.

“The killer was the homer to Martinez,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “It
was a slider that hung.”

Padres starter Mat Latos(notes) pitched well except for one mistake to Utley. He
allowed three runs and five hits in six innings, striking out seven.

Maybin’s RBI single in the seventh off Stutes put the Padres up 4-3. Logan
Forsythe(notes) led off with a triple high off the scoreboard fence in right. Stutes
struck out Rob Johnson(notes) and retired pinch-hitter Jesus Guzman(notes) on a popup. But
Maybin hit a hard one-hopper off diving shortstop Jimmy Rollins’(notes) glove to knock
in the go-ahead run.

Howard then hit the first pitch from Qualls into the seats in left-center to
tie it at 4. Pinch-hitter Ross Gload(notes) followed with a double down the right-field
line. After Rollins walked, Martinez fouled off two bunt attempts. The runners
moved up on a wild pitch, so Martinez got the green light to swing away.

He ripped a drive into the seats in right for his second career homer—his
first was a three-run shot last Sunday at the New York Mets—to give the
Phillies a 7-4 lead. Martinez, a Rule 5 pickup, has filled in nicely for injured
All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco(notes). He’s batting .294 (15 for 51) with 15
RBIs in his last 13 games.

“He’s hot right now, he’s getting big hits and getting the chance to play,”
Manuel said. “Hope he continues hitting like that.”

Utley chased Qualls with a solo homer that made it 8-4. It was his 19th
career multihomer game, and first this season.

“That’s key that Chase has been swinging the bat well,” Howard said.

Antonio Bastardo(notes) allowed a run in the eighth and left with the bases loaded
and two outs. David Herndon(notes) came in and walked pinch-hitter Alberto Gonzalez(notes) to
force in a run that got the Padres within 8-6. But he retired Maybin on a
bouncer to the mound to end the inning. Bastardo, who is 7 for 7 in save
chances, entered with a 0.99 ERA and left at 1.46.

Kendrick was cruising with a two-hitter through five before running into
trouble. Latos helped himself with a single to start the sixth. Maybin hit the
next pitch just inside the foul pole in left to cut it to 3-2. One out later,
Headley tied it with a drive into the left-field seats. Kendrick couldn’t get
out of the inning after giving up a two-out single to Kyle Blanks(notes). He allowed
three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings.

“It’s frustrating to be one out away from a quality start, but all that
matters is we won,” Kendrick said.

It was 100 degrees when the game started and it showed in the stands.
Despite the 187th straight sellout, including postseason play, at Citizens Bank
Park, there were plenty of empty seats in the upper levels.

Manuel rested Howard, so he switched his lineup up a bit. Shane Victorino(notes)
batted third for just the second time all year and Utley hit cleanup for the
first time. It paid off right away in the first inning.

Rollins led off with a double and Victorino walked with one out. Utley then
ripped an opposite-field shot just over the flower bed beyond the left-field
wall to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

Notes: Padres RF Will Venable(notes) was scratched from the lineup because of sore
hamstrings. … Howard wasn’t in the starting lineup for just the third time
this season. He was 2 for 25 since the All-Star break before hitting his sixth
career pinch-hit homer. … Maybin has a nine-game hitting streak and he’s
stolen a base in five straight. Only Dave Roberts (2006) and Alan Wiggins (1983)
stole bases in that many consecutive games for the Padres. … Forsythe’s triple
was his first in the majors. … A Padres pitcher allowed three homers in an
inning for the first time since reliever Brian Sweeney(notes) did it on July 26, 2006,
in the eighth inning at San Francisco in a 9-3 loss.

CBSSports.com wire reports
July 23, 2011

PHILADELPHIA — Now that he has the bat flip down, Michael Martinez needs to work on bunting.

Martinez hit a tiebreaking three-run homer after twice failing to sacrifice, Chase Utley connected twice and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres for the ninth straight time, 8-6 on Saturday.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Howard also went deep, hitting a tying solo shot off Chad Qualls that ignited a five-run seventh. Michael Stutes (5-1) allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings in relief of Kyle Kendrick, and Ryan Madson finished for his 17th save in 18 chances.

“It was huge,” manager Charlie Manuel said of Martinez’s homer. “But at the same time, playing small ball …”

Manuel didn’t complete the thought, though he added Martinez “also has to bunt.”

Martinez doesn’t get much of a chance to speak to reporters, so he didn’t stick around long after the game to talk about his long ball.

Cameron Maybin and Chase Headley hit homers for the Padres, who haven’t beaten the Phillies since last June 7. They were swept by Philadelphia in a four-game series in San Diego in April.

Qualls (4-5) had allowed just one homer this season in 48 1/3 innings before the Phillies hit three. He gave up five runs and four hits while retiring just one batter.

“The killer was the homer to Martinez,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “It was a slider that hung.”

Padres starter Mat Latos pitched well except for one mistake to Utley. He allowed three runs and five hits in six innings, striking out seven.

Maybin’s RBI single in the seventh off Stutes put the Padres up 4-3. Logan Forsythe led off with a triple high off the scoreboard fence in right. Stutes struck out Rob Johnson and retired pinch-hitter Jesus Guzman on a popup. But Maybin hit a hard one-hopper off diving shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ glove to knock in the go-ahead run.

Howard then hit the first pitch from Qualls into the seats in left-center to tie it at 4. Pinch-hitter Ross Gload followed with a double down the right-field line. After Rollins walked, Martinez fouled off two bunt attempts. The runners moved up on a wild pitch, so Martinez got the green light to swing away.

He ripped a drive into the seats in right for his second career homer — his first was a three-run shot last Sunday at the New York Mets — to give the Phillies a 7-4 lead. Martinez, a Rule 5 pickup, has filled in nicely for injured All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco. He’s batting .294 (15 for 51) with 15 RBI in his last 13 games.

“He’s hot right now, he’s getting big hits and getting the chance to play,” Manuel said. “Hope he continues hitting like that.”

Utley chased Qualls with a solo homer that made it 8-4. It was his 19th career multihomer game, and first this season.

“That’s key that Chase has been swinging the bat well,” Howard said.

Antonio Bastardo allowed a run in the eighth and left with the bases loaded and two outs. David Herndon came in and walked pinch-hitter Alberto Gonzalez to force in a run that got the Padres within 8-6. But he retired Maybin on a bouncer to the mound to end the inning. Bastardo, who is 7 for 7 in save chances, entered with a 0.99 ERA and left at 1.46.

Kendrick was cruising with a two-hitter through five before running into trouble. Latos helped himself with a single to start the sixth. Maybin hit the next pitch just inside the foul pole in left to cut it to 3-2. One out later, Headley tied it with a drive into the left-field seats. Kendrick couldn’t get out of the inning after giving up a two-out single to Kyle Blanks. He allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

“It’s frustrating to be one out away from a quality start, but all that matters is we won,” Kendrick said.

It was 100 degrees when the game started and it showed in the stands. Despite the 187th straight sellout, including postseason play, at Citizens Bank Park, there were plenty of empty seats in the upper levels.

Manuel rested Howard, so he switched his lineup up a bit. Shane Victorino batted third for just the second time all year and Utley hit cleanup for the first time. It paid off right away in the first inning.

Rollins led off with a double and Victorino walked with one out. Utley then ripped an opposite-field shot just over the flower bed beyond the left-field wall to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

Notes

• Padres RF Will Venable was scratched from the lineup because of sore hamstrings.
• Howard wasn’t in the starting lineup for just the third time this season. He was 2 for 25 since the All-Star break before hitting his sixth career pinch-hit homer.
• Maybin has a nine-game hitting streak and he’s stolen a base in five straight. Only Dave Roberts (2006) and Alan Wiggins (1983) stole bases in that many consecutive games for the Padres.
• Forsythe’s triple was his first in the majors.
• A Padres pitcher allowed three homers in an inning for the first time since reliever Brian Sweeney did it on July 26, 2006, in the eighth inning at San Francisco in a 9-3 loss.