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Padres host Pirates, looking for fourth straight win

Sep 17, 2007 - 1:45 PM Pittsburgh (66-83) at San Diego (81-67) 10:05 pm EDT

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The San Diego Padres may be looking to catch the Arizona Diamondbacks but the club also will be keeping an eye on the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Padres go for their fourth consecutive victory when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a four-game series Monday.

San Diego enters the contest two games behind division-leading Arizona (84-66) in the National League West and 1 1/2 games up on Philadelphia (80-69) in the wild card race.

The Padres will hand the ball to rookie Jack Cassel (0-0, 4.66), who is looking for his first career win. The 27-year-old righthander has made just one start in his career, giving up three runs and 10 hits with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-4 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 31.

Pirates starter John Van Benschoten (0-5, 10.86) will look to record his first win since 2004 and the second of his career. The righthander was tagged for five runs and six hits over just 1 1/3 frames in a relief appearance on September 6, a 16-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

In his last four outings, the 27-year-old Van Benschoten is 0-3 with a 28.08 ERA.

Pittsburgh is hoping to avoid a three-game losing streak.