Pirates 0, Padres 3
Ryan Ludwick belted a two-run homer and Jon Garland tossed six shutout innings to give the San Diego Padres a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with Thursday’s 3-0 victory.
Miguel Tejada drove in a run for the Padres, who won with just six base hits. Ludwick’s blast was his third in two games and 14th of the campaign.
Garland (11-8) gave up just one hit and struck out five against four walks to grab the win. Two relievers bridged the gap to Heath Bell, who struck out a pair in the ninth for his 34th save.
Tejada doubled to right in the third to plate Garland and Ludwick completed the scoring in the sixth with his blast.
The Pirates struggled offensively, mustering four hits in now losing 31 of 35 games on the road. Rookie third baseman Pedro Alvarez failed to drive in a run for the first time in eight contests.
Pittsburgh starter Zach Duke (5-11) allowed three runs - two earned - on six hits in six innings.