Pirates 3, Padres 1
Pedro Alvarez hit his National League-leading 31st home run and Francisco Liriano registered a season-high 13 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings as visiting Pittsburgh won the opener of the three-game series.
Liriano (14-5) allowed four hits and issued two walks while becoming the first Pirate to record 13 strikeouts since Oliver Perez in 2004. Mark Melancon allowed Nick Hundley's two-out RBI double in the ninth before recording his eighth save for Pittsburgh, which maintained its one-game lead over St. Louis in the National League Central.
The Pirates broke a scoreless tie in the fourth, when Padres right fielder Chris Denorfia misplayed Alvarez’s single after Andrew McCutchen led off with a base hit, allowing the latter to score from first and the former to race home on the three-base error. Andrew Cashner (8-8) was the hard-luck loser after yielding three runs (one earned) on five hits over seven frames.
Alvarez added to the lead in the sixth with a two-out solo blast to right field estimated at 395 feet. Alvarez and McCutchen had two hits apiece for the Pirates, who were held to a total of five in their third win over their last 10 games.
The Padres loaded the bases in the fourth before Liriano induced Ronny Cedeno to hit into a fielder's choice, ending the inning. Will Venable went 0-for-4, ending his career-best hitting streak at 15 games.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Padres recalled RHP Brad Boxberger from Triple-A Tucson and designated RHP Sean O'Sullivan for assignment. … Pittsburgh LF Starling Marte missed the game with a right hand contusion and is listed as day-to-day. … The Pirates optioned LHP Kris Johnson to Triple-A Indianapolis and recalled RHP Ryan Reid.