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 It is rarely the number of baserunners a team amasses before
recording its 27th out.
The Pittsburgh Pirates put 27 runners on base Monday night in the
longest nine-inning game ever played in San Diego, and they routed
the Padres 10-3 for their fourth win in five games.
"We were consistent and persistent," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle
said while describing a game that set several records the Padres
wish they could forget.
Shortstop Jordy Mercer and second baseman Neil Walker each reached
base five times for the Pirates -- who had 16 hits, seven walks,
three hit batters and a runner reach base on a passed ball after a
strikeout.
Pittsburgh equaled its third-highest run total of the season while
setting a season high with 16 runners left on base.
"That was a strange game," said Walker, who went 3-for-4 with a
double and three RBIs in addition to being hit twice by pitches.
Mercer, who entered the game hitting .199 with one homer, finished
4-for-5 with a solo homer that opened the scoring in the second. He
followed with three singles and a walk to finish with four runs and
two RBIs.
 Seven Padres pitchers, starting with struggling starter Tim
Stauffer, combined to throw 249 pitches, with only 145 going for
strikes.
After Stauffer allowed two runs in just 2 2/3 innings, the bullpen
-- which entered the game with the second-best ERA in the major
leagues -- allowed eight runs on 12 hits, five walks and three hit
batters in 6 1/3 innings.
"We have one of the best bullpens in baseball, there's no doubt
about that," Padres manager Bud Black said. "You play six months,
there's going to be nights like this. You don't see it very often,
so when you do, it's rather alarming.
"Our fans, our pitching staff, our players aren't used to this type
of pitching. We didn't pitch well, we didn't throw strikes, we were
behind in the count. We threw a lot of pitches."
San Diego's pitch total was a franchise record for a nine-inning
game -- one of two records set Monday night. The game lasted 4
hours, 4 minutes, which was 13 minutes longer than the previous
longest home game in Padres history.
When asked to comment about the time of the game, Hurdle said: "It's
time to go home."
"We're a fairly selective team," Walker said. "We're not afraid to
get deep into counts. We saw a lot of pitches tonight while staying
selective throughout the game."
Mercer added, "I think we had a good game plan going into the last
series (the Pirates won three of four at Dodger Stadium before
heading south to San Diego) and we carried it over into tonight."
Mercer was hitless in 21 consecutive at-bats before he had two hits
at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Monday was the second four-hit game
of his career.
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"Jordy seemed to find his rhythm at the end of May, he settled in,"
Hurdle said. "His homer in the second was a big swing."
Mercer's 414-foot drive into the distant second deck at Petco Park
produced the game's first run.
"The final score was a little deceiving," Hurdle said. "The lead was
only 4-2 going into the seventh."
Pittsburgh right-hander Charlie Morton (2-7) allowed two runs on
three hits, three walks and three hit batters in five innings. Both
teams had three batters hit by a pitch.
Morton didn't allow a hit through the first four innings, although
the Padres had five baserunners. When San Diego scored twice in the
bottom of the fifth on a leadoff single by center fielder Alexi
Amarista, a run-scoring double by shortstop Everth Cabrera and a
run-scoring single by Seth Smith, Pittsburgh's lead was down to 3-2.
However, after Morton struck out pinch hitter Tommy Medica with the
bases loaded to end the threat, the Pirates went to work. Pittsburgh
scored one in the sixth and three in both the seventh and eighth
innings.
Backing Mercer and Walker were pinch hitters Travis Snider, Jose
Tabata and Gaby Sanchez, who went 3-for-3 with two runs and two
RBIs. Right fielder Josh Harrison was 3-for-6.
NOTES: Padres RHP Andrew Cashner threw a 65-pitch simulated game at
Petco Park on Monday afternoon, and he is scheduled to start over
the weekend against the Nationals. Cashner has been on the disabled
list since May 17 with soreness in his right elbow and forearm. ...
The Padres recalled RHP Jesse Hahn, 24, from Double-A San Antonio to
make Tuesday's start against the Pirates. ... Pirates manager Clint
Hurdle said RHP Brandon Cumpton (0-2, 6.85 ERA in four starts) could
be skipped from his next start. ... Pirates RHP Stolmy Pimental, on
the disabled list since May 2 with right shoulder inflammation, is
set to start a rehab assignment with Class A Bradenton. ... The
Padres sent Triple-A RHP Jorge Reyes to the Braves for cash
considerations. ... San Diego 1B/OF Tommy Medica (sore quadriceps)
and CF Cameron Maybin (calf) are both day-to-day.
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