Sep 28, 2008 7:09 am US/Eastern
Padres 3, Pirates 2
SAN DIEGO (AP) ―
Kevin Kouzmanoff and Chris Young made sure the San Diego Padres won't lose 100 games.
Kouzmanoff hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Young pitched six strong innings to lead the Padres to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night. The Padres are 63-98 with one game remaining.
After four straight winning seasons - including NL West titles in 2005-06 - the Padres found themselves flirting with a 100-loss season for the first time since 2003, when they finished 64-98.
The Padres have lost 100 games five times, most recently in 1993 when they were 61-101. That was the year of their infamous fire sale, when they dealt Gary Sheffield, Fred McGriff and other high-salaried players.
Facing rookie Jimmy Barthmaier (0-2), who was making his third big league start, the Padres scored three runs with two outs in the first inning.
Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 34 chances. It was the 13th time Hoffman saved at least 30 games, extending his own big league record. The 40-year-old Hoffman extended his big league career record to 554.
Brian Giles walked and scored on Adrian Gonzalez's double to left. Kouzmanoff homered into the Padres' bullpen beyond the center-field fence, his 23rd, to make it 3-0.
Pittsburgh's Adam LaRoche hit an RBI double in the third off Young and Jason Michaels an RBI triple off Heath Bell with two outs in the eighth. Bell retired Steve Pearce to end the inning.
Young (7-6) held the Pirates to one run and five hits in six innings while striking out five and walking none. The 6-foot-10 right-hander improved to 4-0 lifetime against Pittsburgh.
Young was limited to 18 starts this season. His nose was broken when he was hit by a line drive by Albert Pujols on May 21 and he was on the disabled list for more than two months. He went on the DL again in August with a strained right forearm.
Barthmaier allowed three runs and four hits in five innings.
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