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Scorching Pirates host struggling Padres

Jul 24, 2008 - 11:14 AM San Diego (38-64) at Pittsburgh (47-54) 7:05 p.m. EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates will look to build off a three-game sweep of division-rival Houston Astros when they take on the struggling San Diego Padres on Thursday.

Pittsburgh pounded out 25 runs and 34 hits to move past the Astros and into fifth-place in the National League Central. The sweep followed four straight losses at Colorado after the All-Star break.

Meanwhile, San Diego continued their freefall in the lackluster NL West. Following a three-game series sweep by the Cincinnati Reds, the Padres have lost seven of eight and 25 of their last 32 to fall 12 1/2 behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Padres, owners of the worst record in baseball, took six of seven from the Pirates last season.

Yoslan Herrera (0-1, 19.50) makes his third career start for Pittsburgh. Last out, the 28-year-old righthander lasted 1 2/3 innings, surrendering seven runs on eight hits.

Clay Hensley (1-0, 0.00) will be making his first start for the Padres in place of recently traded Randy Wolf. Hensley has pitched five scoreless innings for San Diego in relief, including earning a win Monday night against the Reds after being recalled from Class AAA Portland on July 18.

The 28-year-old lefthander had labrum surgery on his right shoulder in September. In his only previous start against the Pirates in 2006, Hensley struck out a career-high nine, allowing one run and seven hits over six innings.