Pittsburgh, PA – Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Vance Worley tossed seven strong innings to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres to open a three-game set.
Worley (5-1) struck out seven while allowing five hits, one walk and one run scored for the Pirates, who have won three straight. Gregory Polanco went 3- for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
"All the balls hit sharply, good swings," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Polanco.
Seth Smith drove in the only run of the game for the Padres, who had won four of five coming in. Ian Kennedy (8-10) suffered the loss despite giving up just two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits and three walks while striking out five in six innings.
"Just tried to battle through it, didn't have my best stuff today," Kennedy said.
The Padres struck quick as Everth Cabrera led off the game with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Yangervis Solarte and crossed home courtesy of a sac fly by Smith for a 1-0 lead.
Pittsburgh, though, came right back in the home half to take the lead. Josh Harrison led off with a triple off the top of the wall in center and scored when Polanco followed with a single. Polanco later stole second and moved to third on a bad throw from Rene Rivera before scoring on a sac fly by Ike Davis for a 2-1 lead.
San Diego put its first two men on in the second, but Rivera hit into a double play and Alexi Amarista struck out to end the frame.
The Pirates loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but Davis struck out and Starling Marte lined into a double play.
In the sixth, the Padres put their first three men on to juice the bases for Jedd Gyorko, who hit a grounder back to third and the Pirates turned a 5-2-3 double play. Yonder Alonso then flied out to end the frame.
Worley struck out the side in the seventh, Tony Watson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, and Mark Melancon struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth for his 21st save of the season.
Game Notes
Worley has won three straight decisions ... Kennedy was 3-0 in his previous six starts ... Pittsburgh took two of three from the Padres in San Diego in early June.
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