SAN DIEGO—Martín Pérez beat his former team in his first victory since being acquired before last month’s Major League Baseball trade deadline as the San Diego Padres defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 8–2 on Wednesday.
The victory was the 19th in the past 22 games for red-hot San Diego.
Jake Cronenworth and David Peralta homered for the Padres, who swept six games from the Pirates this season. San Diego (69–53) improved to a season-high 16 games over .500, sweeping the three-game series and winning eight series in a row for the first time since 2007.
Pittsburgh has lost 10 consecutive games for the first time since June 13–22 last year. The Pirates are 1–12 since July 31, the day after the trade deadline.
Pérez (3–5) didn’t get a decision in his first two starts after San Diego obtained him July 30 for Ronaldys Jimenez, an 18-year-old left-hander in his first professional season.
“He’s been huge,” Padres Manager Mike Shildt said. “He’s just a real veteran guy with moxie, and he has the stuff to match it.”
Pérez allowed one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, with eight strikeouts and a walk.
“I’m pitching different and using different sequences,” he said. “I used to work too much with my fastball, and everybody is ready for that. But I’m trying to slow things down and then go back to the [fastball]. I think that’s working, and I’m going to continue doing that.”
Pirates starter Mitch Keller (10–7) gave up a season-high eight runs on eight hits in five innings. He is 0–2 in six starts since beating the New York Mets on July 8.
Cronenworth followed first-inning singles by Luis Arraez and Jurickson Profar with a home run to right off a Keller sweeper, his 15th home run this season and first since July 20.
“I feel good,“ Cronenworth said. “I didn’t have the greatest month last month, but I feel like I was still finding a way to get on base.”
Peralta homered on his 37th birthday, a two-run drive in the third that stretched San Diego’s lead to 8–0. Signed to a minor-league contract in May, Peralta increased his season home run total to six by homering for a second consecutive day.
“He just continues to take good at-bats,” Shildt said. “He’s a positive presence on the field and in the clubhouse.”
Rookie Jackson Merrill hit a two-run triple in the third.
Pittsburgh’s Joey Bart homered in the sixth.
Trainer’s Room
Pirates right-hander Colin Holderman (right wrist) threw his first bullpen session since going on the injured list Aug. 8.Up Next
Pirates: Rookie right-hander Paul Skenes (6–2, 2.25 earned-run average), who is 0-2 in his past four starts, is set to start Friday night at Seattle. Right-hander Logan Gilbert (7–8, 2.91) is scheduled for the Mariners.Padres: Right-hander Matt Waldon (7–9, 4.00) is on tap to start Friday at Colorado. Right-hander Cal Quantrill (7–8, 4.56) is set to go for the Rockies.
