Cooke Finally Ends Victory Drought

Steve Cooke, hammered in his first outing this season and without a win in nearly three years, combined with two relievers on a one-hitter in the Pirates’ 2-0 win on Tuesday night.

Steve Finley’s single to right field with two out in the first inning was San Diego’s only hit.

Cooke, who probably will face the Dodgers on Sunday in Pittsburgh, pitched seven innings and faced only three batters over the minimum. He retired his last 12 batters and 19 of 20, mostly by keeping the ball in play and the batters off balance with a curveball and changeup.

He struck out only three.

After Finley’s hit, Ken Caminiti walked before Greg Vaughn flied out to right field.

It was San Diego’s high-water mark.

Cooke’s last win had come in relief against Cincinnati on July 10, 1994, and he sat out the entire 1995 season because of bursitis in his throwing shoulder.

His last win as a starter came against Philadelphia on June 21, 1994.

Cooke was 0-0 with a 7.56 earned-run average in three relief outings with the Pirates last season.

But on Tuesday night he was superb, as was San Diego’s Fernando Valenzuela, who pitched shutout ball for six innings, giving up six hits and striking out five before giving way to Sean Bergman.

Pittsburgh’s Tony Womack broke the scoreless tie with a two-out, two-run triple in the eighth inning.

Al Martin, pinch-hitting for Cooke, was walked intentionally before Womack tripled on a full-count pitch.

The Pirates’ Rich Loiselle pitched the eighth and John Ericks worked the ninth for his third save, one in each of Pittsburgh’s three series so far.

Pittsburgh’s Jose Guillen went two for three after starting his big league career one for 20. He doubled off Bergman (1-1) with one out in the eighth inning.

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NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERS

WHO: Pittsburgh Pirates

WHERE: At Pittsburgh

WHEN: Friday 4 p.m.

Saturday 10:30 a.m.

Sunday 10:30 a.m.