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Friday, Jul. 28 7:05pm ET
Pirates record season high in runs | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- On a night the Pittsburgh Pirates traded for another Ramirez, Aramis Ramirez proved the one they already have might be ready to begin realizing his potential. Ramirez hit a grand slam and a two-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates, without the traded Wil Cordero, had their best offensive game of the season in beating the San Diego Padres 16-5 Friday night. Ramirez, who had three homers and 17 RBIs entering the game, hit his first career grand slam in a five-run first inning against Matt Clement (9-10). The Pirates had a pair of five-run innings while hitting four multiple-run homers. "We haven't had a game like this in a long, long time and we really needed it," said Brian Giles, who added an RBI double. The victory almost was overshadowed as the Pirates traded Cordero to Cleveland for infield prospect Enrique Wilson, whom the Pirates have long sought, and outfielder Alex Ramirez. Aramis Ramirez added a two-run shot in the sixth off Carlos Almanzar while going 3-for-4 in his best game in the majors. He was the Pirates' starting third baseman for part of the 1998 season as a 19-year-old, then began this season as a starter before again returning to the minors. Ramirez had homered twice since returning to the Pirates on June 19. "I like the way he's swinging the bat," manager Gene Lamont said. "He's more relaxed since he came back, and we're starting to see his power." Ramirez hit a tape-measure homer Wednesday against Milwaukee. Cordero, signed to a $9 million, three-year contract last winter, was traded back to Cleveland for outfielder Alex Ramirez and infielder Enrique Wilson. John Vander Wal, also rumored to be on the trading block with the Monday deadline approaching, added a three-run homer, his 14th, in the second as Clement lasted 3 1-3 innings in his shortest start of the season. Clement, the Padres' most consistent starter in an injury-decimated season and a Pittsburgh-area native, left during a five-run third inning after allowing 10 runs -- nine earned -- and six hits. His ERA jumped from 5.13 to 5.62. "He's probably heard his name in trade talks and whether that's a distraction or not, I don't know," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "He just got the ball up. You're going to have days like that. There was probably a lot going on in his head but he's a tough kid. He'll bounce back and pitch well." Clement said, "This isn't the kind of game that leaves your mind easily, but I have to start taking baby steps to get back to where I want to be." Clement was replaced by Matt Whiteside, who gave up Emil Brown's three-run homer in the Pirates' second five-run inning. Brown, a reserve outfielder who has shuttled to and from the minors this season, hadn't homered since June 2, 1997, when he spent the season with the Pirates as Rule 5 player. Rookie right-hander Bronson Arroyo (2-3) wasn't as sharp as he was in limiting Philadelphia to two infield singles in seven innings Saturday, but still lasted six innings for the victory. He added two doubles, his first two career hits, to the Pirates' 14 hits. "I'm starting to feel a little more relaxed up here," Arroyo said. He shook off a two-run Padres first to pitch four shutout innings, and might have escaped a three-run sixth with only a run scoring. But third baseman Ramirez threw away an apparent inning-ending grounder ahead of Dave Magadan's two-run pinch double. Kevin Young and Ramirez were hit in succession by Todd Erdos pitches in the eighth inning, but there were no incidents. Brown followed with a sacrifice fly, giving him four RBIs. Game notesAfter the start was delayed 1 hour, 17 minutes by rain, the first inning took 29 minutes as Clement and Arroyo combined for 61 pitches. ... Padres 1B Ryan Klesko was a late scratch with tightness in his left hamstring. ... Padres C Carlos Hernandez, activated off the disabled list before the game, also had an RBI double in the sixth. ... The Pirates had lost three of four. ... Pirates starting pitchers are 5-1 in the last eight games. ... Pittsburgh is 6-10 against the NL West. The Padres are 15-16 against the NL Central. ... 3B Phil Nevin's error in the fourth was only the sixth in the Padres' last 18 games. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard San Diego Clubhouse Pittsburgh Clubhouse RECAPS Cleveland 0 Baltimore 0
Pittsburgh 16
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