Pirates 5, Padres 2
SAN DIEGO -- Right-handed starter Charlie Morton held the Padres to two runs on three hits over seven innings and drove in the decisive run with a sixth-inning ground ball Saturday night to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-2 victory over the Padres at Petco Park.
Morton (2-0) was making only his second start since returning from right hip surgery performed last September.
He retired the Padres in order in five of the seven innings he worked with one of the two runs charged against him scoring on an error. Morton issued one walk and struck out two Padres. Sixteen of the 21 outs he got came on ground balls. Morton threw only 85 pitches with 57 going for strikes.
Morton retired the last 11 Padres he faced. Right-handed closer Mark Melancon picked up his 13th save. Pirates pitchers retired 17 of the last 18 Padres they faced.
Morton also drove in the winning run.
The Pirates' winning rally began with first baseman Pedro Alvarez's one-out double to center in the sixth. Padres starter Tyson Ross then hit catcher Francisco Cervelli with a pitch and shortstop Jody Mercer reached on an infield single to load the bases.
Morton hit a chopper that second baseman Cory Spangenberg charged and fielded on the infield grass, leaving him with only a play at first on Morton.
The Pirates added two runs in the ninth.
Ross (2-5) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings to take the loss.
Eight of the first 12 Pirates Ross faced reached base and Pittsburgh loaded the bases in both innings. But the Pirates also scored only one run in each inning despite getting five hits and two walks.
The Pirates' first run was unearned. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen started the rally with a two-out single. But the key play came on left fielder Starling Marte's ensuing grounder to third. Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks fielded the ball but threw a one-hopper that first baseman Yangervis Solarte couldn't handle, with the error charged to Middlebrooks.
Second baseman Neil Walker followed with a run-scoring single.
The Padres immediately tied the score. Center fielder Will Venable drew an opening walk and raced home on Solarte's double up the gap in left center field.
The Pirates regained the lead in the second, although they scored only one run with three hits, a walk and three stolen bases.
While Ross was retiring the next 11 Pirates he faced, the Padres tied the score at 2 with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth.
NOTES: Pittsburgh 3B Josh Harrison was back in the starting lineup Saturday after missing Friday's game with a sore shoulder. Harrison hurt the shoulder sliding on Thursday night. ... Padres RHP Brandon Morrow threw a bullpen Saturday and will make a rehab start with Double-A San Antonio. Morrow has been on the disabled list since May 3. ... CF Wil Myers hit off the tee in the batting cage Saturday for the first time in 12 days. He has been on the disabled list since May 11 with left wrist tendinitis.