Pittsburgh Pirates vs San Diego Padres live baseball stream online league audio radio commentary espn 360 gamecast May 2, 2011. Game Review: The San Diego Padres are looking to turn around last month's offensive struggles, and they got off to a promising start with a win to begin May.
A series against the Pittsburgh Pirates may continue to help their confidence.
The Padres hope to win their 10th straight over the Pirates on Monday night when they open a three-game series at Petco Park.
10:05 PM ET, May 2, 2011
Petco Park, San Diego, California
After losing seven of eight, San Diego (11-17) won its final two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, closing the series with a 7-0 victory Sunday.
Dustin Moseley gave up three hits in seven innings, and although San Diego's hitters struck out 11 times, the team scored its most runs in 13 games. Brad Hawpe had a two-run single, doubling his RBI total for the year.
"We're not far off," outfielder Will Venable told the Padres' official website. "A new month is always nice. We're excited to get going."
Starting Pitchers
Pittsburgh: McDonald (1-2, 7.66 ERA)
San Diego: Harang (4-1, 3.90 ERA)
The Padres haven't won three in a row this season, primarily due to a struggling offense. San Diego scored 12 runs the last two games after averaging 2.8 over its first 26 contests.
The team has to like its chances of continuing to turn things around this week. The Padres swept the six-game season series against the Pirates last year after winning the final three meetings of 2009.
They've averaged 5.8 runs during the streak, already their longest-ever string of victories against Pittsburgh.
Aaron Harang (4-1, 3.90 ERA) will take the mound against his former NL Central rival Monday.
Harang spent seven-plus seasons with Cincinnati before signing a free-agent deal with the Padres. He had a 1.88 ERA in winning his first four starts before allowing eight runs in six innings of an 8-2 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday.
"It was one of those games," the right-hander said after allowing his first three homers of the year. "You're going to have them every once in a while."
Harang is 13-5 with a 4.08 ERA against the Pirates -- his most wins against any opponent.
Like San Diego, Pittsburgh (13-15) is hoping it has turned the corner after securing its fourth road series win -- matching last year's total.
The Pirates closed a weekend set at Colorado with an 8-4 win Sunday.
The eight runs were their second-highest total this season. Garrett Jones had two hits and three RBIs while Xavier Paul added a triple, a single and two RBIs in his first start for the Pirates.
Pittsburgh, which scored 10 runs in its previous five games, finished with 12 hits.
"We've been waiting on the bats," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Turn the page on April. May is going to be an offensive month. Let's think that way."
After losing three straight April 19-21, the Pirates have alternated wins and losses the last nine games.
Looking to snap that trend and a three-game losing streak at Petco Park, Pittsburgh will hand the ball to James McDonald (1-2, 7.66).
Coming off back-to-back ugly starts in which he allowed 15 runs in 7 1/3 innings, McDonald was sharp against San Francisco on Wednesday, yielding four hits in six innings of a 2-0 victory.
"It feels like I got a monkey off my back with the first win," McDonald said. "I feel a little less stress now."
McDonald, a former Los Angeles Dodger, has struggled in two starts against the Padres, allowing seven runs in 6 1/3 innings.
A series against the Pittsburgh Pirates may continue to help their confidence.
The Padres hope to win their 10th straight over the Pirates on Monday night when they open a three-game series at Petco Park.
10:05 PM ET, May 2, 2011
Petco Park, San Diego, California
After losing seven of eight, San Diego (11-17) won its final two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, closing the series with a 7-0 victory Sunday.
Dustin Moseley gave up three hits in seven innings, and although San Diego's hitters struck out 11 times, the team scored its most runs in 13 games. Brad Hawpe had a two-run single, doubling his RBI total for the year.
"We're not far off," outfielder Will Venable told the Padres' official website. "A new month is always nice. We're excited to get going."
Starting Pitchers
Pittsburgh: McDonald (1-2, 7.66 ERA)
San Diego: Harang (4-1, 3.90 ERA)
The team has to like its chances of continuing to turn things around this week. The Padres swept the six-game season series against the Pirates last year after winning the final three meetings of 2009.
They've averaged 5.8 runs during the streak, already their longest-ever string of victories against Pittsburgh.
Aaron Harang (4-1, 3.90 ERA) will take the mound against his former NL Central rival Monday.
Harang spent seven-plus seasons with Cincinnati before signing a free-agent deal with the Padres. He had a 1.88 ERA in winning his first four starts before allowing eight runs in six innings of an 8-2 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday.
"It was one of those games," the right-hander said after allowing his first three homers of the year. "You're going to have them every once in a while."
Harang is 13-5 with a 4.08 ERA against the Pirates -- his most wins against any opponent.
Like San Diego, Pittsburgh (13-15) is hoping it has turned the corner after securing its fourth road series win -- matching last year's total.
The Pirates closed a weekend set at Colorado with an 8-4 win Sunday.
The eight runs were their second-highest total this season. Garrett Jones had two hits and three RBIs while Xavier Paul added a triple, a single and two RBIs in his first start for the Pirates.
Pittsburgh, which scored 10 runs in its previous five games, finished with 12 hits.
"We've been waiting on the bats," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Turn the page on April. May is going to be an offensive month. Let's think that way."
After losing three straight April 19-21, the Pirates have alternated wins and losses the last nine games.
Looking to snap that trend and a three-game losing streak at Petco Park, Pittsburgh will hand the ball to James McDonald (1-2, 7.66).
Coming off back-to-back ugly starts in which he allowed 15 runs in 7 1/3 innings, McDonald was sharp against San Francisco on Wednesday, yielding four hits in six innings of a 2-0 victory.
"It feels like I got a monkey off my back with the first win," McDonald said. "I feel a little less stress now."
McDonald, a former Los Angeles Dodger, has struggled in two starts against the Padres, allowing seven runs in 6 1/3 innings.
