Bullpen continues dominance, Padres sweep Pirates with 4-0 win
Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images
PNC Park- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The San Diego Padres had won four games in a row coming into their series finale of a three-game set in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
On Star Wars night at PNC Park, Stephen Kolek made the start for the Padres. The second-year pitcher is fresh off his time in El Paso at the Triple-A level. Kolek was an MLB Rule-5 Draft pick from the Padres last season but spent the entire year in the bullpen.
In his first start at the major league level, the 28-year-old right-handed pitcher went 5.1 innings, allowing four hits and walking two batters. Kolek struck out four in the game and left after 84 pitches in the bottom of the 6th inning. A free pass to Bryan Reynolds was the deciding factor in removing him from the game.
Xander Bogaerts drove in three early runs, and Elias Diaz homered for the Padres to give them a 4-0 lead after six innings.
Put the pedal to the metal. pic.twitter.com/Q4joicPofw
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 4, 2025
The Padres’ bullpen has been unbeatable so far this season, with a 1.79 ERA coming into the game. An early Padres’ lead results in a win, and that formula was again tested on Sunday afternoon.
Jeremiah Estrada was first out of the pen, and he immediately put out a fire in the 6th inning with back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.
The next pitcher up out of the pen was Adrian Morejon. The southpaw seems to have found his groove in the bullpen. Morejon allowed a triple to pinch-hitter Matt Gorski with one out. But he got out of the jam thanks to a heads-up play by Manny Machado to force out Gorski at the plate on a ground ball by Jared Triolo.
Lefty Wandy Peralta owns a 1.35 ERA this year after a horrendous 2024 season. He threw a 1-2-3 inning against the heart of the Pirates’ order, including a strikeout of O’Neil Cruz to begin the inning.
The meat of the Padres’ order (Manny Machado, Luis Arraez, and Xander Bogaerts) went 7-for-13 with two stolen bases and two walks in the game. Each player recorded at least two hits in the game for San Diego. Fernando Tatis Jr. was 0-for-5 in the game with two strikeouts.
Jason Adam pitched the ninth inning for San Diego to finish the game. The right-handed pitcher allowed two hits but finished the 4-0 shutout with a strikeout of Andrew McCutchen to end the game. Sunday’s win over Pittsburgh was the ninth straight game the Padres have won over the Pirates.
Up next for the Padres is a three-game set in New York against the Yankees.
Nick Pivetta (5-1, 1.78 ERA) and Carlos Rodon (4-3, 3.43 ERA) are expected to be the starting pitchers.
The first pitch for Monday’s game is 4:05 p.m. Pacific
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.