So now the Padres can't play defense, either?

SAN DIEGO -- No matter where your eyes ventured at Petco Park, something was clear: numerous people were playing hooky.

Unfortunately, the Padres' defense took Wednesday off, too.

When right fielder Will Venable catches a lazy fly ball and a sarcastic cheer ensues -- in the fourth inning, no less -- you know the leather has failed.

The Padres' shaky defense was among the reasons they were plucked by the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4 on a day in which there was little love from the Padres' gloves.

Not only did the Padres commit two costly errors, they had two other miscues that weren't recorded in the box score. Twice the Padres had chances to turn a double play, and twice replacement second baseman Eric Patterson couldn't turn it.

For some, a miscue here and there isn't the difference between a win and a loss.

For the Padres, it is.

You hear pitching and defense, pitching and defense, pitching and defense ad nauseam at the downtown digs.

Why argue when the struggling Padres offense (.218 team batting average) seldom puts a crooked number on the scoreboard.

Hitters they aren't -- or at least not yet, as the Padres' brass preaches patience with the season little more than a month old.

They're right, to a degree, but some Padres are nearing the 100 at-bat mark, the point when keen baseball minds begin making decisions.

So with very little pop, it's imperative that the Padres pitch and play defense with the best of them.

The pitchers can take a bow, with an ERA (2.96) that ranks among the best in baseball.

The defense, which allowed six more unearned runs Wednesday, could use some lessons. Maybe Jerry Coleman will come down from the radio booth to provide instruction.

Just kidding about the Colonel. But if the Padres can't pick it, they'll have little chance to leave the National League West's cellar.

"We have to make plays. Every teams does,'' manager Bud Black said. "You can't afford to extend innings."

The defensive disaster started early Wednesday, with the runners on first and third and one out in the second inning. Brandon Wood hit the ball back to pitcher Clayton Richard, who could easily have gotten Neil Walker out at home plate. But Richard decided, and I can't blame him, to go for the double play.

Good idea, bad execution.

Richard double-clutched before delivering the ball to Patterson, who couldn't pry the ball from his mitt to get Wood at first base, giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead.

"I made a decision in my head that if the ball is hit hard enough where I thought we could get a double play, I was not going to waste time and just go two,'' said Richard, who has had trouble throwing to bases this year. "I think I made the right choice. It just didn't work out."

The third inning made the second inning look good.

Andrew McCutchen opened with a single, and Xavier Paul followed by hitting a ball inches in front of home plate. Catcher Nick Hundley pounced on it, threw toward second base, and the ball, we think, landed just shy of the Tony Gwynn statue in the Park at the Park.

Matt Diaz followed with a smash down the third-base line -- well struck, but a major leaguer fields the ball.

But the hot corner had a cold glove in Chase Headley on Wednesday. Instead of backhanding the ball, Headley merely deflected it.

"I wouldn't say it's a routine play, but it's one I hope to make," Headley said. "I think I could have made the play, but I didn't.''

Walker smoked a two-run double and an unnerved Richard walked Steve Pearce.

Doumit then worked Richard into a full count before hitting a grand slam to left field for a 7-0 Pittsburgh lead.

"Errors are part of the game," Richard said. "But it is disappointing not being able to make pitches to get us out without getting hurt too bad."

At that point, it felt like game, set and match for the Pirates.

Losing to the payroll-loaded Philadelphia Phillies is one thing. Losing two of three to Pennsylvania's other team -- the Pirates have a payroll as puny as the Padres' and they posted baseball's worst road record last year -- should be embarrassing.

There are plenty of red faces at Petco Park these days. It happens when the home team goes from 90 victories to five in 18 home dates.

This Band-aid of a season while the youngsters work their way through the minor leagues continues to head the wrong direction. The brand isn't spinning the turnstiles -- attendance was 16,613 on Wednesday -- and to be sure, the Padres remain boring.

Winning trumps all, and the Padres do it only occasionally.

But not when they don't hit and catch what the other team hits.

That's the hook, and those playing hooky saw it firsthand.

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Can't score + can't play d = no hope in America's Finest City.

When they let Adrian go and despite what they got in compensation told us everything we need to know about the Padres. Small market team with a small market vision will always translate into small time goals and small time achievements. Make an appearance in the Series once every twenty years, get swept and start the cycle over again.