(Best E Casino) - Pittsburgh southpaw Zach Duke tries to end a seven-start winless skid tonight when the Pirates host the San Diego Padres in game two of a four-game series at PNC Park.

Duke, a 20th-round draft pick in 2001, was 4-4 on the season and had a 4.10 earned run average after a 5-3 defeat of the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 9 in Pittsburgh.

He's 0-3 in seven outings since, including consecutive losses on July 11 and 20 in which he's gave up 20 hits and 14 runs in 11 innings, walking two and striking out nine.

The Clifton, Texas native is 1-1 in a pair of lifetime starts against the Padres, allowing 10 hits and five runs in 13 1/3 innings.

San Diego counters with Korean-born righty Cha Seung Baek, who'll make his 11th National League appearance of the season.

The 28-year-old was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 games with Seattle and has since gone 2-4 in 10 more appearances with the Padres.

Overall, he's allowed 80 hits and 43 earned runs in 78 1/3 innings, including nine starts in 20 outings.

Baek, who's never faced the Pirates, is 2-0 in 10 road games this season, allowing 13 runs in 27 hits in 34 1/3 innings.

On Thursday, Yoslan Herrera was solid on the mound to pick up his first major league win, and the Pirates made short work of the Padres, 9-1. Xavier Nady and Jason Bay clubbed solo homers for the Pirates, who have rattled off four straight wins after a five-game skid.

Herrera (1-1) tossed six innings of scoreless, six-hit ball while fanning four batters and walking just one.

Clay Hensley (1-1) took the loss as he was touched for six runs on seven hits. Hensley, who has not started since last August and has made just three relief appearances this season, got the call in place of left-hander Randy Wolf, who was dealt to Houston earlier this week.

Adrian Gonzalez knocked in the only run for San Diego, which has dropped three straight and 9-of-10 overall.

San Diego was 6-1 against the Bucs last season and has won 11 of the 13 meetings since the start of the 2006 campaign.