Martín Pérez won his first game since the Padres traded for him, leading San Diego to an 8-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. This win was the Padres’ 19th in 22 games.
Jake Cronenworth and David Peralta both hit home runs for the Padres, who completed a six-game sweep of the Pirates this season. With this win, San Diego (69-53) is now 16 games above .500, having swept the three-game series and won eight series in a row for the first time since 2007.
Pittsburgh has lost 10 games in a row for the first time since June 13-22 last year. The Pirates are 1-12 since July 31, the day after the trade deadline.
Pérez (3-5) did not get a decision in his first two starts after being acquired from the Rangers on July 31 in exchange for Ronaldys Jimenez, an 18-year-old left-hander.
“He’s been huge,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “He’s just a real veteran guy with moxie and he has the stuff to match it.”
Pérez allowed one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walking one.
“I’m pitching different and using different sequences,” Pérez said. “I used to work too much with my fastball and everybody is ready for that. But I’m trying to slow things down and then go back to the fastball. I think that’s working and I’m going to continue doing that.”
Mitch Keller (10-7) gave up a season-high eight runs and eight hits in five innings. He is 0-2 in his last six starts since beating the New York Mets on July 8.
Cronenworth hit a home run to right field off a Keller sweeper after singles by Luis Arraez and Jurickson Profar. It was his 15th home run of the season and first since July 20.
“I feel good,” Cronenworth said. “I didn’t have the greatest month last month but I feel like I was still finding a way to get on base.”
Peralta hit a two-run homer on his 37th birthday in the third inning, extending the lead to 8-0. Signed to a minor league contract in May, Peralta hit his sixth home run of the season and has homered on consecutive days.
“He just continues to take good at-bats,” Shildt said. “He’s a positive presence on the field and in the clubhouse.”
