PITTSBURGH -- Chad Kuhl returned to Triple-A after his first stint in the big leagues for two reasons. First, there was no longer room in Pittsburgh's rotation for a fifth starter. Second, he couldn't get enough ground balls, the foundation of his Minor League success. But Kuhl got ground balls when he needed them Tuesday night, throwing six solid innings in the Pirates' 6-4 win over the Padres at PNC Park.
With the win, the Pirates pulled within 2 1/2 games of the Marlins for the second National League Wild Card spot, tied with the Mets and trailing the Cardinals by 1 1/2 games.