Padres 3, Pirates 2: Good Guys Come From Behind to Steal the Series in Steel City

For a little while today, it looked like our Padres' winning streak might come to a close. But in the end, they pulled out the victory in Steel City, securing yet another series win.

Tyson Ross bounced back from his disappointing outing against the Phillies and pitched a very strong game tonight. One might say he was dealing.

Ross gave up two runs on three hits in seven innings of work, collecting seven strikeouts and issuing no walks, though giving Andrew McCutchen a free base via HBP. Pittsburgh's starter, Charlie Morton was even sharper, allowing one run on two hits and three walks and striking out nine batters while going eight innings. But it was Ross who came out victorious, ending his five-game winless streak.

San Diego got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the 4th on an RBI by Tommy Medica.

In the 7th, the Pirates came back, getting their first lead of the series on a two-run homer by McCutchen. The Padres went down in order in the top of the 8th, then Colt Hynes and Dale Thayer combined for a 1-2-3 bottom of the 8th.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention all the fantastic defense by the Padres tonight. We saw it in the infield with Cedeño.

And in the outfield with Fuentes.

But perhaps most impressive tonight was Rivera's defense from behind the plate, gunning down both McCutchen and Felix Pie.

In the top of the 9th, the Pirates sent Mark Melancon to the mound to close out the game. He gave up a leadoff single to the hot-hitting Jedd Gyorko, who went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored today. After Chase Headley and Medica flied out and struck out, respectively, Chris Denorfia stepped up to the plate to pinch-hit for Alexi Amarista while the ever-talented Andrew Cashner came in to pinch-run for Gyorko. Deno singled, moving Cashner over to second base and keeping the game alive. Another pinch-hitter, Logan Forsythe, came in, this time for Reymond Fuentes, who had gone 1-for-3 with a couple of strikeouts on the night. The Aristocrat singled to right field as Cashner hustled home and made a head-first slide at the plate while Denorfia moved over to third.

Rene Rivera put the exclamation point on the inning, and his night, with the go-ahead RBI single.

Huston Street came in to close the game and did it with no issues. He retired the Pirates in order, securing the victory for San Diego.

Street expressed his relief to battery-mate Rivera, followed by an awkward high-five.

And then Cashner joked with Gyorko (probably) about the fact that if Buddy hadn't put him in to pinch-run, they might not have won the game.

Our Padres will go for the sweep at PNC Park bright and early tomorrow morning as veteran Ian Kennedy toes the rubber against rookie Gerrit Cole.

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