Padres 3, Pirates 2
Rene Rivera singled home the go-ahead run after pinch hitter Logan Forsythe plated the equalizer with a two-out single in the ninth inning as San Diego continued to torment the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
The Padres bunched four singles in the ninth off Pirates closer Mark Melancon (2-2) to make a winner of Dale Thayer (3-5) and improve to 31-10 against Pittsburgh at PNC Park. Huston Street retired the side in order in the ninth for his 31st save.
Andrew McCutchen belted a two-run homer in the seventh inning for the Pirates, who dropped two games behind first-place St. Louis in the National League Central.
Both teams received stellar performances from their starters. San Diego's Tyson Ross retired 16 in a row at one point and allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings, while Charlie Morton yielded one run and two hits with a career high-tying nine strikeouts in eight frames for Pittsburgh.
The Padres went on top in the fourth inning, when Jedd Gyorko drew a one-out walk, moved to third on Chase Headley's infield single and scored on a groundout by Tommy Medica, who beat the relay to avoid an inning-ending double play. Pittsburgh's Neil Walker struck out but reached on a wild pitch in the seventh and McCutchen followed with a blast to right-center for his 20th homer and a 2-1 lead.
GAME NOTEBOOK: McCutchen became the second player in franchise history to register 20 homers and 20 steals in three straight seasons, joining Barry Bonds. ... Headley extended his hitting streak to six games. ... 1B Justin Morneau had two of the three hits for the Pirates.