Tyler Anderson took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in San Diego, but the Pirates’ punchless offense got shut out for the second game in a row. Anderson allowed two runs in the seventh and the Padres took a 2-0 win.
Anderson buzzed through the first six innings, needing just 75 pitches and striking out five while inducing a lot of weak contact. The only blemishes were a couple of walks.
Unfortunately, Anderson’s teammates couldn’t do anything with Miguel Diaz, who was making his first major league start in four years, and a succession of relievers. Diaz left after three innings and was followed by five relievers.
The Pirates hit about how you’d expect from a team batting Erik Gonzalez cleanup. San Diego was helped by several good defensive plays and one close call. Bryan Reynolds hit a drive off the top of the wall in right that missed going out narrowly enough that the Pirates challenged the call. Replay showed the ball hit the screen atop the wall and Reynolds got a double.
Anderson finally ran out of steam, or luck, in the eighth. After he walked Manny Machado to lead off, Wil Myers dribbled a single through the hole into right. Machado went to third, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Tommy Pham. With two out, Austin Nola doubled Myers home. Anderson left after that and Clay Holmes got the last out of the inning. David Bednar threw a scoreless eighth.
The Pirates finished with four hits and three walks. They fanned ten times. The team has now lost five in a row.
