Pirates Rock Kile in 13-5 Victory

Darryl Kile was supposed to pitch the Colorado Rockies into the postseason. Instead, he may be pitching himself out of their starting rotation.

Kile (7-14) lasted only 1 2/3 innings Monday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated Colorado, 13-5. Kile gave up seven runs and nine hits, his second consecutive poor start against weak-hitting Pittsburgh and his shortest outing in 25 starts this season.

“I spent two or three innings on the bench thinking about alternatives,” Rockies Manager Don Baylor said. “I’m going to kick it around with the staff for a day or so before we decide what we’re going to do.

“It doesn’t help him mentally. After a while, you keep talking about how tough you are mentally and how you want to take the ball. You also have to be realistic. I don’t want to lose this guy for the year. It’s great to be a great soldier and all that. He’s getting out in the first, second, third inning with a lot of earned runs. He wasn’t brought here for that.”

Kile, whose earned-run average rose to 5.97, said he wouldn’t welcome a break from his struggles. Since winning consecutive starts May 5 and 10, Kile has gone 2-11.

Kile, who signed a $24 million three-year contract last winter, gave up 16 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in losing consecutive starts to Pittsburgh. Baylor said there’s no physical problem and Kile agreed.

“I felt great,” the pitcher said. “I just got hit around. It’s something I’ve got to work out as far as pitching better. That’s it.”

Kevin Young was four for five with four RBIs as the Pirates stopped a four-game losing streak. Young hit a two-run double in a three-run first, singled home a run in a four-run second, added an RBI double in the fifth and singled leading off a three-run eighth.

Pittsburgh set season highs with the runs and 21 hits, stopping a four-game losing streak and winning for only the second time in nine games. Nine of the hits were doubles.

“Hopefully this is the kind of game that will get us going,” Manager Gene Lamont said. “We’ve been struggling with the bats lately and maybe this will get us turned around.”

Jason Christiansen (2-2) got four consecutive outs for the victory, getting his first hit and RBI in a three-run eighth. Starter Chris Peters, staked to a 7-0 lead, was chased after 4 2/3 innings.

Al Martin hit an RBI double in the first as the Pirates surged ahead. Kile got the first out of the second inning, then allowed four consecutive hits, a walk and another hit. Jose Guillen doubled in a run, Aramis Ramirez chased Kile with a run-scoring single and Peters singled in a run off reliever Fred Rath.

NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERES

WHO: Pittsburgh Pirates

WHERE: Dodger Stadium

WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday 5 p.m.