Nine Run Inning Dooms Padres In Loss To Pirates

The Padres won the first two games of the series, and a fast start on Sunday had them poised for a sweep. Then the Pirates showed signs of life. The Pirates used a nine-run fourth inning to come back to beat the Padres 11-5.

San Diego actually scored four runs in the first inning, off of Pirates starter Erik Bedard. Chris Denorfia led the game off with a homer, his fourth of the year. Jesus Guzman drove in with an RBI single, to make the score 2-0. An error by Pirates shortstop Clint Barmes gave the Padres a 4-0 lead. Barmes would make amends, however.

The Pirates busted the game open in the fourth, off of Padres starter Ross Ohlendorf. Ohlendorf, the former Pirate, gave up 7 runs (6 earned) in the inning. The big blow came off of the bat of Barmes, who socked a grand slam to put the Pirates ahead 6-5. The Pirates scored three more runs off of Cory Burns to put the game away.

The loss ended the Padres six-game winning streak, but they still won the series against the contending Pirates. The Padres will open a four-game series against the Braves on Monday.