The Padres' Jackson Merrill hits an RBI double in the sixth inning Sunday in San Diego.
The Pirates fumbled an opportunity to win their second straight series, blowing a two-run lead and ultimately falling to the Padres, 6-4, today at Petco Park. Both questionable decisions by Don Kelly and a lack of execution by the bullpen led to a four-run seventh inning for the Padres, ending the Pirates' six-game West Coast road trip at 3-3.
"It was a tough loss today. It's hard when you take a loss like that," Kelly said. "3-3 on the road trip is good, but coming that close today to being 4-2, it is frustrating."
Despite Chase Shugart throwing three pitches after relieving Andrew Heaney with two outs in the sixth inning, Kelly went to Tanner Rainey to start the seventh. He walked three and gave up an earned run to cut the lead to 4-3. Caleb Ferguson relieved Rainey after he loaded the bases. Ferguson allowed his first three inherited runners of the season to score on two weak hits and a sacrifice fly. He had stranded nine up to that point in the year.
Jason Adam and Robert Suarez faced the minimum over two scoreless innings to close things out for the Padres. Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run home run in the third, tying him with Roberto Clemente on the Pirates' all-time home run list with 240.
• Finished 3-3 on road trip • Lost 22 of 33 dating to April 26 • 10-12 since Kelly became manager
► THE NUMBER
48: Runs the Pirates have scored since May 22, sixth-most in Major League Baseball
► THE NEXT THREE
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
7:28 pm - 06.01.2025SAN DIEGOPadres 6, Pirates 4: Bullpen blows two-run lead
GETTY
The Padres' Jackson Merrill hits an RBI double in the sixth inning Sunday in San Diego.
The Pirates fumbled an opportunity to win their second straight series, blowing a two-run lead and ultimately falling to the Padres, 6-4, today at Petco Park. Both questionable decisions by Don Kelly and a lack of execution by the bullpen led to a four-run seventh inning for the Padres, ending the Pirates' six-game West Coast road trip at 3-3.
"It was a tough loss today. It's hard when you take a loss like that," Kelly said. "3-3 on the road trip is good, but coming that close today to being 4-2, it is frustrating."
Despite Chase Shugart throwing three pitches after relieving Andrew Heaney with two outs in the sixth inning, Kelly went to Tanner Rainey to start the seventh. He walked three and gave up an earned run to cut the lead to 4-3. Caleb Ferguson relieved Rainey after he loaded the bases. Ferguson allowed his first three inherited runners of the season to score on two weak hits and a sacrifice fly. He had stranded nine up to that point in the year.
Jason Adam and Robert Suarez faced the minimum over two scoreless innings to close things out for the Padres. Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run home run in the third, tying him with Roberto Clemente on the Pirates' all-time home run list with 240.
► THE COVERAGE
From our staff on the scene:
• Extra Bases: McCutchen ties Clemente
• News: Skenes' next start Tuesday
• Minors: Johnson hits sixth home run
► THE HIGHLIGHTS
► MORE POSTGAME VIDEO
• Manager: Kelly's press conference
• Players: Inside the clubhouse
► THE BOXSCORE
► MORE GAME DATA
• Hitter breakdowns
• Pitcher breakdowns
• Updated statistics
• Season schedule
► THE STANDINGS
► THE TRENDS
• Finished 3-3 on road trip
• Lost 22 of 33 dating to April 26
• 10-12 since Kelly became manager
► THE NUMBER
48: Runs the Pirates have scored since May 22, sixth-most in Major League Baseball
► THE NEXT THREE
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