Michael King pitched six strong innings, Manny Machado drove in two runs, and David Peralta hit a home run as the San Diego Padres defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Tuesday night, giving the Pirates their ninth consecutive loss.
The Padres have now won 18 of their last 21 games since July 20 and have secured their eighth straight series win. In contrast, the Pirates have lost 11 of their last 12 games.
“They kept chasing that sinker,” King said. “It wasn’t part of my game plan, but I noticed it early and just kept using it.”
King (10-6) struck out 10 batters, allowed seven hits, and did not walk any hitters, with 70 of his 93 pitches being strikes. The 29-year-old right-hander has won five of his last six starts since June 29.
“He controlled the counts, and that’s what helps you keep the other team from scoring,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “He made a lot of quality pitches.”
Pirates starter Luis Ortiz (5-3) gave up two runs, one earned, and three hits, with three strikeouts and two walks in five innings.
Ortiz managed to escape a bases-loaded situation with no outs in the first inning, allowing an unearned run on a sacrifice fly by Machado that scored Luis Arraez, giving San Diego a 1-0 lead. Pittsburgh’s Ji Hwan Bae made a great diving catch on Machado’s sinking line drive to prevent more runs.
In the fourth inning, with Machado on first base, Bae made another impressive leaping catch near the wall in center field to end the inning, robbing Jackson Merrill.
Peralta hit a 410-foot home run to right-center field in the fifth inning off Ortiz, making the score 2-0.
“Another good swing tonight to get us that second run. He has done a tremendous job,” Shildt said. “He is a guy who brings it every night. He is a glue guy for our club.”
Machado added an unearned insurance run in the eighth inning, singling in Arraez from third base against reliever Kyle Nicolas.
The Pirates had eight hits but left seven runners on base. Pittsburgh reliever Ben Heller pitched two scoreless innings.
