Baseball fans from East County had some mixed emotions Friday night as local product Joe Musgrove helped lead the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-3 victory over the hometown Padres.
Musgrove maneuvered through seven innings by allowing seven hits and two walks without giving up a run.
The right-hander from Grossmont High School finished with seven strikeouts with many of his friends and family members in attendance.
After staking Musgrove to an early 1-0 lead, the Pirates tacked on four more runs off of Padres rookie lefty Eric Lauer in the third inning.
Lauer only lasted five innings and gave up six runs (three earned) before exiting.
San Diego’s offense scraped together three runs in the later innings but could not completely dig out of the early 6-0 hole.
Eric Hosmer supplied three hits and Wil Myers went 2-for-5 with a stolen base.
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Musgrove won a World Series ring last season with the Houston Astros before being traded to Pittsburgh and staking his claim in the starting rotation.
His former Grossmont teammate Steven Brault relieved him in the eighth and gave up a couple runs before the rest of the bullpen closed it out for the Pirates.
San Diego will try to get back on track Saturday night when rookie southpaw Joey Lucchesi takes the hill.
A third local product — Rancho Bernardo High alum Trevor Williams — is scheduled to start for the Pirates.
