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San Diego Padres

MLB


Padres Close Set With Visiting Pirates

(Sports Network) - A pair of last-place teams in their respective divisions wrap up a three-game series this afternoon, when the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates close out the 2008 season at Petco Park.

The Padres have won two of their last three games, including Saturdays 3-2 victory, and will finish in the basement of the NL West for the first time since 2003. In the recent triumph over the Pirates, Kevin Kouzmanoff belted a two-run homer and Adrian Gonzalez knocked in the other run for the Padres.

Starter Chris Young earned the win, allowing just a run and five hits in six innings. Closer Trevor Hoffman posted his 30th save with a perfect ninth inning. Manager Bud Black almost had the Padres in the playoffs a year ago, but his job may be in jeopardy after an unproductive season.

Cha Seung Baek will toe the rubber for the Friars on Sunday and he is 6-9 with a 4.72 ERA in 21 games (19 starts) with San Diego. Baek, who also pitched for Seattle this season, is 2-0 in his last three trips to the hill. He won his most recent start on September 21 at Washington in a 6-2 in as he limited the Nationals to a run in seven solid innings.

The right-hander faced Pittsburgh for the first time in his career on July 25 at PNC Park and recorded the win. Baek was reached for four runs in 5 1/3 innings of his teams 6-5 victory in the Steel City.

Pittsburgh hasn't reached the playoffs since 1992 and will finish last in the NL Central for the second year in a row. The Pirates, who will complete the first season under manager John Russell, have reached the 90-loss mark in four consecutive seasons and have lost five of their last six games, including yesterdays setback in the second installment of this series.

Bucos starter Jimmy Barthmaier took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in five frames, with four walks and two strikeouts. Adam LaRoche went 2- for-4 with a run batted in to highlight the offense while Steve Pearce and Freddy Sanchez both ended with a pair of hits.

Taking the mound for the Pirates on Sunday will be Ross Ohlendorf, who is 0-3 with a 7.50 ERA in four starts with the club since being acquired from the New York Yankees in July. He has dropped three straight mound appearances and was nailed for four runs and 10 hits in five frames in his previous outing on September 21, a 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros.

Ohlendorf has never faced San Diego.

The Pirates lost three of four to the Padres when the clubs met in Pittsburgh from July 24-27. They are just 4-16 versus San Diego over the past 20 meetings.

San Diego Padres

Padres' Scoreboard

Sun, Sep. 28 FINAL
Pittsburgh (66-94) 6
San Diego (63-98) 1

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