Pirates at Padres
Ian Kinsler has been a major disappointment in his first season with the San Diego Padres. But the veteran second baseman delivered the game-winning three-run homer in the series opener and will look to be productive again on Friday, when the Padres host the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second contest of their four-game set.
Kinsler is batting just .175 on the season and is only 3-for-20 over his last five games, including the three-run blast in the sixth inning that slammed off the facing of the second deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. building. Franmil Reyes also went deep - his third blast in four games - for San Diego, which halted its three-game slide. The hot-hitting Josh Bell struck out twice in four at-bats for Pittsburgh in the opener to end a career-best 15-game hitting streak during which he went 26-for-61 with six homers and 21 RBIs. Starling Marte also fanned twice while going 0-for-5, striking out to end the game, as his 10-game hitting streak came to an end.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jordan Lyles (3-1, 2.09 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 4.57)
Lyles is coming off a strong outing in which he gave up one run and one hit over six innings while defeating St. Louis. The 28-year-old has allowed fewer than two runs in five of his last seven starts. Lyles is 2-4 with a 5.60 ERA in 12 career games (eight starts) against the Padres, a team for which he made 29 appearances over parts of the last two seasons.
Lucchesi gave up one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings against Colorado in his last outing but settled for his third straight no-decision. The 25-year-old has issued fewer than three walks in all eight of his starts while registering 40 strikeouts in 41 2/3 frames. Lucchesi defeated the Pirates in his lone start against them last season as he allowed just one hit over five scoreless innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Padres RHP Kirby Yates increased his major-league lead to 17 saves by working a perfect ninth inning in the series opener.
2. Pittsburgh RHP Trevor Williams (side) departed Thursday's game after 3 2/3 frames and will be re-evaluated on Friday.
3. San Diego set the major-league record for most consecutive games without a no-hitter (8,020) - the franchise never has recorded one - breaking the mark previously held by the New York Mets.