Pirates lose 2-1. But ... Felix Pie!

The Pirates couldn't get much going in support of Gerrit Cole as they lost 2-1 to the Padres Wednesday night.

But first: Felix Pie! Yes, Felix Pie is with the team now. I came home from work in the middle of the game, saw Pie's name in the box score, and was a little confused. The Pirates called him up before the game, sending Ryan Reid back to Indianapolis. The Pirates optioned Andrew Lambo and Alex Presley too recently for either of them to be recalled instead, so I wouldn't read too much into Pie's promotion, especially since he hit worse at Indianapolis than either of them. Anyway, he went 1-for-3 with a walk.

Cole pitched six innings, striking out five and walking none. But the Pirates couldn't do much of anything against Ian Kennedy, who struck out eight.

The Padres got one run in the third on a Will Venable double, a groundout and a sacrifice fly, then another in the fifth as Chris Denorfia singled, stole second, and just beat the throw home after a Yonder Alonso single. The Bucs scored their only run in the eighth without even getting a hit -- Pie led off with a walk, moved up on a groundout and a passed ball, and came home on a sacrifice fly. There wasn't ever much hope of the Pirates tying the game.