Pirates offense goes quiet in 3-1 loss at San Diego

SAN DIEGO (AP) — It didn't result in a win, but Kevin Correia gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a great effort.

Just one day after pitching two innings in Pittsburgh's 6-hour, 7-minute 6-3 win in 19 innings on Sunday afternoon at St. Louis, Correia was back on the mound.

But Edinson Volquez struck out 10 and Will Venable drove in two runs to lift the San Diego Padres to a 3-1 victory over the Pirates on Monday night.

San Diego, which snapped a five-game losing streak Sunday, has won 16 of 19 against the Pirates. Pittsburgh is a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the final wild-card berth.

Correia (9-8) started in place of scheduled starter Wandy Rodriguez despite throwing 24 pitches in Sunday's win.

Correia, who went into the game with a 75-pitch limit, gave up three runs — two earned — and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings.

He was pulled with runners on first and second after walking Yasmani Grandal with one out in the fifth on his 72nd pitch.

"I wish I could have thrown a little bit better," Correia said. "It would have been tough to beat (Volquez)."

Volquez (8-9), who had a 13.83 ERA in his previous four starts, allowed one run and five hits. The right-hander walked three and hit a batter.

It was the first time Volquez has pitched past the fourth inning in four starts this month.

Correia became the first Pirate since Pascual Perez in 1981 to pitch in relief one day and then start the next day's game.

"I felt fine most of the whole game," Correia said.

"His effort was solid and he gave us a chance to win the game," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said.

Volquez got help from his bullpen, which pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings.

Included in that group were Brad Brach and Dale Thayer, both of whom each struck out NL batting leader Andrew McCutcheon late in the game with runners on base.

Brach's strikeout came after he relieved Volquez in the seventh with runners on first and second. He struck out McCutcheon on a full-count fastball after falling behind 2-0.

"I just reared back and threw it up and at the top of the (strike) zone and he swung through it," Brach said. "You're just trying to make your pitches in that situation."

Thayer pitched the ninth for his seventh save in nine chances and struck out McCutcheon to end the game with a runner on first.

McCutcheon went 1 for 5 as his average dropped to .352.

The Padres reached Correia, a former teammate, for two runs in the first inning.

Everth Cabrera led off with a double and scored on Venable's single. After a passed ball and groundout, Venable scored on Grandal's infield out.

Cameron Maybin led off the San Diego second with a single, went to second on a sacrifice and to third on Cabrera's infield single. Venable followed with an RBI single for a 3-0 lead.

The Pirates finally reached Volquez when McCutcheon led off with an infield single and went to second on third baseman Chase Headley's throwing error. McCutcheon took third on a ground out and scored on Neil Walker's single.

Rodriguez, the eighth pitcher used by the Pirates on Sunday, threw two scoreless innings to earn the win.

Notes: Rodriguez's next start will be against Milwaukee on Friday at home. ... Correia made his 22nd start out of 24 appearances. ... Correia pitched for San Diego in 2009-2010. ... San Diego's Carlos Quentin was hit by a pitch for the second straight game to run his major league-leading total to 15. It also tied the club record set by Kevin Kouzmanoff in 2008. ... The Pirates added an extra pitcher to the bullpen when they recalled two rookies, RHP Kyle McPherson and LHP Justin Wilson from Triple-A Indianapolis to provide some relief for the overworked bullpen. McPherson and Wilson each made their major-league debuts. McPherson pitched two scoreless innings and Wilson threw one scoreless inning.

WPXI