SAN DIEGO — Through the first two months of this season, Petco Park has been more lenient on long balls than in recent years. Part of that has to do with the roster that plays home games there; San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller tore apart and rebuilt his team during the winter, transforming the National League’s worst offense last season into a team that can field a productive lineup including power hitters Justin Upton and Matt Kemp.
The ballpark itself is still difficult to drive a ball out of, but Thursday night, the Pirates made it look easy.