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Three-run first propels Padres past Pirates

Sep 28, 2008 - 5:42 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Chris Young pitched six solid innings and Kevin Kouzmanoff homered to lead the San Diego Padres to a 3-2 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Adrian Gonzalez had a run-scoring double and Kouzmanoff's two-run blast - his 23rd of the season - capped a three-run first inning as the Padres earned their 63rd win of the season, thus avoiding the dubious 100-loss mark. San Diego has not lost 100 games in a season since 1993.

"It's really not that big of a deal," Gonzalez said of avoiding 100 losses. "That's a number people are going to look at. Either way, you're looking at it as a failure."

Young (7-6) allowed one run and five hits en route to his first win at Petco Park since May 11, the home outing prior to when the 6-10 righthander was struck in the face by a line drive and landed on the disabled list for two months.

"It was certainly a different year for me," Young said. "There were a lot of learning experiences, from injuries to the rehab process and recovery and surgery, and pitch-wise, too. There is certainly a lot I take away personally that I've learned this year."

The 28-year-old Young also picked up his third victory in four starts to close out a rough campaign in which he spent two separate stints on the DL. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.

"I'm happy for him and the way he has bounced back from both setbacks," Padres manager Bud Black said. "To come in and pitch like he has, it's a great sign for next year for Chris, ending on a positive note."

Mike Adams contributed a scoreless seventh before Heath Bell entered in the eighth and allowed a triple by Jason Michaels that scored Ryan Doumit, bringing Pittsburgh within 3-2. Bell recovered in time to retire the next batter, Steve Pearce, and preserve the advantage.

Trevor Hoffman came on in the ninth and retired the side in order for his 30th save in 34 chances this season. The all-time saves leader reached the 30-save plateau for the 13th time in his career, extending his own major league record.

Pittsburgh starter Jimmy Barthmeier (0-2) pitched a career-high five innings, yielding three runs and four hits in his third major league start. The 24-year-old righthander struck out two and walked four.

"I just felt like in the first inning, I really wasn't as loose as I was later," Barthmeier said. "I was relaxed the whole time, but I was kind of pitching to their strengths at the beginning of the game."

Adam LaRoche doubled in the third to drive in Freddy Sanchez with Pittsburgh's first run. LaRoche and Sanchez each had two hits for the Pirates, who have dropped eight of their last nine contests at Petco Park.

"It would've been easy for (Barthmeier) to kind of fold the tent (after the first), but he pitched pretty well after that," Pirates manager John Russell said. "It's a good note for him going into the offseason."