Pirates Drop Another To Padres, Sean Rod Back To Bucs

Pirates can’t overcome early deficit vs. Padres

Lulled to sleep by rookie right-hander Dinelson Lamet, the Pirates on Saturday spotted the San Diego Padres a six-inning head start.

By the time the Pirates woke up, it was too late.

Lament carried a one-hitter into the sixth inning and strong-armed the Padres to a 5-2 victory.

The Pirates sent 21 batters to the plate against Lamet. Only two of them hit a ball out of the infield. The lone hit was Josh Bell’s ground-ball single with two outs in the fourth inning.

Lamet (6-4) beat the Pirates for the second time in an eight-day span. Merely three years removed from his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, Lamet, 25, has allowed three or fewer runs in eight of his 12 starts.

Over 52⁄3 innings, Lamet gave up one hit, walked three and struck out five. He also stroked his first big league hit in the sixth inning.

Lamet left the game with a 3-0 lead. The Padres then needed three relievers just to get through the seventh inning.

Phil Maton served up a solo homer to Josh Harrison and was removed after loading the bases with two outs.

Buddy Baumann gave up Adam Frazier’s RBI single, which was mashed too hard to left field for David Freese to be able to score from second base.

With the bases still loaded, Craig Stammen got Andrew McCutchen to pop up.

The Padres got those runs back quickly in the eighth. Dusty Coleman hit a two-run homer off reliever Daniel Hudson.

Pirates starter Gerrit Cole (9-8) went six innings, allowed three runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out five.

It was Cole’s first loss in six starts since June 30, when he was ripped for seven runs by the San Francisco Giants.

Cole scuffled a bit in the first inning. After two quick outs, the Padres loaded the bases on a walk, a single and a hit batter. The rally fizzled when Hector Sanchez took a 97 mph fastball down the pike for strike three.

Sanchez didn’t even flinch as the ball screamed through the heart of the strike zone. It appeared he simply guessed wrong. There’s been a lot of that lately when Cole’s pitching.

“(Being) very aggressive, throwing strikes, challenging people and making pitches,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “(It’s) very hard to predict what he’s going to throw. That’s been one of his strengths, the unpredictability of what’s coming.”

The Padres came up with a two-out hit in the third to take a 1-0 lead.

Cory Spangenberg walked with one out, then went to second on a grounder. Will Myers looped an RBI double into left field — Starling Marte tried to make a sliding catch, but the ball ticked off his glove and rolled a couple of feet behind him.

Cole got out of another jam in the fourth after the Padres put runners on second and third with none out.

Lamet popped out, and Manuel Margot hit a sharp comebacker. Both outs came on two-seamers at the bottom of the strike zone.

Carlos Asuaje hit a weak fly ball to left to end the inning. Asuaje, a left-handed hitter, got tied up by an 96 mph fastball inside at chest level.

A little misfortune and a good piece of hitting by Myers helped the Padres make it 3-0 in the fifth.

With one out, Yangervis Solarte tapped the ball about 20 feet in front of the plate. Catcher Francisco Cervelli lost his footing on the wet grass as he threw, and Solarte got an infield single.

Cole wanted a double play, so he went back to his sinker. Myers smacked the first pitch over the center-field wall for his 21st homer.

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Pirates acquire Sean Rodriguez from Braves

Sean Rodriguez had up to 72 hours to report after the Pirates reacquired him Saturday afternoon via trade with the Atlanta Braves. However, Rodriguez didn’t want to waste a minute.

“Hey, we’re only 41⁄2 games back,” Rodriguez said by phone from Atlanta. “I’ll be there, ready to play, (on Sunday) morning. I can’t wait to get back to Pittsburgh.”

The Pirates swapped former first-rounder Connor Joe for Rodriguez, who excelled as a super-utility player the past two seasons in Pittsburgh. Minor league outfielder Danny Ortiz was designated for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster.

“Sean was a good fit for us when he came here (in 2015), and he’s a good fit now,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He brings a unique energy and edge.”

Rodriguez last season set career highs with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs. In 2015, he became a social media sensation by punching out a cooler in the dugout after benches cleared during the National League wild-card game against the Chicago Cubs.

“What do I think about Sean coming back? All I’ve got to say is, somebody had better hide the water cooler,” shortstop Jordy Mercer joked.

The Pirates must make another roster move Sunday to get Rodriguez on the active roster. It’s likely that Max Moroff will be optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Rodriguez, 32, signed a two-year, $11.5 million free-agent deal with the Braves in November. He will make $5.75 million again next season.

“It’s funny, we were just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, as far as unpacking in Atlanta, and now we have to pack it up again,” Rodriguez said with a laugh. “But I don’t mind at all.”

Three weeks before the start of spring training, Rodriguez sustained a serious shoulder injury when his car was T-boned by another driver who was fleeing police. Rodriguez’s wife and children also were injured.

Rodriguez had surgery Feb. 15 to repair a torn rotator cuff. He came off the disabled list July 17 and batted .162 with a .677 OPS in 15 games with the Braves.

“Most people coming back from as significant of a surgery as he had are not on the field as quickly as he was,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “Sean’s a good hitter. We see the same aggressiveness. We see the same impact. And we love the defensive versatility and the energy.”

Joe, 24, was a supplemental first-round pick (39th overall) in 2014. In 74 games with Double-A Altoona, he batted .240 with a .718 OPS, five home runs and 30 RBIs. He missed nearly the entire month of July due to a dislocated left middle finger.

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Pirates notebook: Veteran reliever Kontos claimed off Giants

Veteran reliever George Kontos was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.

Reliever Jhan Marinez was DFA’d to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

“Jhan did a nice job, but was in more of a lower-leverage role,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “We think George can pitch in a little bit higher-leverage role for us.”

The Pirates will have to open a spot on the active roster when Kontos joins the team Monday. One option would be to send Dovydas Neverauskas back to Indianapolis.

Kontos is making $1.75 million this season and won’t become a free agent until after the 2019 season.

In 50 outings with the Giants this year, Kontos, 32, went 0-5 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He has made the eighth-most appearances among NL relievers.

“He’s taken the ball in different roles and he takes the ball a lot,” Huntington said.

“He’s a veteran reliever who’s pitched in some big situations and who’s been durable and resilient.”