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Friday, Sep. 1 10:05pm ET
For a change, breaks go Pirates' way | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- These were the kind of breaks that have rarely gone Pittsburgh's way this season. Pinch-hitter Abraham Nunez used a high-chop infield single to drive in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to give the Pirates a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night. The Pirates blew a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning, then came back to beat one of the game's top closers in Trevor Hoffman. Pittsburgh, with the worst record in the majors, used a dropped third strike and Nunez's well-placed chopper to pull out the win. "You usually don't win games like that," said Pittsburgh manager Gene Lamont. "Certainly not against a guy like Hoffman. We were lucky there." The Pirates, fresh off an 8-21 record in August, will take any win they get. "It's nice because we've really been struggling," Nunez said. The Padres, who tied it 2 in the ninth on pinch-hitter Mike Darr's two-out, two-run single, played poorly in the field, committing four errors. With one out in the 10th, Warren Morris struck out against Hoffman (4-7) but reached base when catcher Wiki Gonzalez dropped a third strike and made an errant throw to first. "When you have as many errors as we do (NL-leading 118), they are going to hurt," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. Alex Hernandez moved Morris to third with a single. Nunez then hit a chopper in front of the plate. Hoffman fielded the ball with his back to the plate, but had no play as Morris scored. "That type of play is going to be bang-bang," said Padres first baseman John Mabry. "It was perfectly placed." Mike Williams (3-3) blew his fifth save in 22 chances after giving up Darr's hit, but pitched two innings for the win. Williams walked two in the Padres ninth, and the runners moved up on a groundout before Darr singled. Dan Serafini, traded earlier this season by San Diego, pitched 7 1-3 shutout innings for the Pirates. He gave up five singles and did not allow a baserunner past second base. Serafini was relieved by Rich Loiselle after allowing one-out singles to pinch-hitter Dave Magadan and Damian Jackson in the eighth. Loiselle struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Klesko and retired Eric Owens on a grounder. Serafini, making his sixth start for Pittsburgh, faced the Padres for the first time since being traded to the Pirates on June 28. "I figure I had something to prove," Serafini said. "If I had pitched like that for them, I might still be pitching here." The Pirates scored twice in the fourth as Brian Giles led off with a single and scored on John Vander Wal's double off Woody Williams. Vander Wal later scored when Hernandez hit a high chopper to first baseman Joe Vitiello, whose throw home sailed over the head of Gonzalez for an error. Game notesIn three relief appearances with San Diego, Serafini was 0-0 with an 18.00 ERA as he allowed six earned runs in three innings. ... Hernandez made his major league debut after being recalled from Triple-A Nashville. Hernandez started at first base in place of Kevin Young, who has a strained groin muscle, and got his first hit with a sixth-inning single. The Pirates also called up utilityman John Wehner and RHP Matt Skrmetta. ... Padres C Ben Davis (right oblique) was activated from the 15-day DL. San Diego also recalled RHP Will Cunnane from Triple-A Las Vegas. ... Former Dodgers and current U.S. Olympic baseball manager Tommy Lasorda and his team attended the game. Lasorda will put his squad through a workout at the ballpark on Saturday morning. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Pittsburgh Clubhouse San Diego Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 6 Seattle 2
Pittsburgh 3
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