SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Charlie Morton pitched seven strong innings and combined with two relievers on a four-hitter, and drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-2 victory against the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.
Morton (2-0) retired his last 11 batters in his second start of the season. He won his season debut 4-2 against Marlins on Monday after starting the year on the disabled list recovering from right hip surgery. He held San Diego to two runs, one earned, and three hits while striking out two and walking one.
After allowing an unearned run in the fourth, he got Will Middlebrooks to hit into a double play, and then retired in the Padres in order in the fifth through seventh innings.
 
Morton pitches 7 strong innings, drives in go-ahead run
 
Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 13th save in 14 chances.
The Pirates won for the eighth time in nine games.
Pittsburgh broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth when Morton's bases-loaded chopper to second brought in Pedro Alvarez. Alvarez doubled into the left-center gap with one out. After Francisco Cervelli was hit on the left shoulder by a pitch from Tyson Ross (2-5), he advanced on Jordy Mercer's infield single before Alvarez doubled.
The Pirates scored an unearned run in the first and a run in the second inning, while also stranding five runners.
Andrew McCutcheon singled with two outs in the first and, after a throwing error by third baseman Middlebrooks allowed Starling Marte to reach, scored on Neil Walker's single. Alvarez walked to load the bases before Ross got a ground out to get out of the jam.
San Diego tied it six pitches into the bottom of the inning when Will Venable drew a leadoff walk and scored on Yangervis Solarte's double to left.
The Pirates jumped ahead 2-1 in the second when Mercer hit a leadoff single and scored on Josh Harrison's one-out single to right. Ross loaded the bases on a single and walk before getting Marte to hit into a double play.
San Diego tied it in the fourth when Matt Kemp, aboard on a one-out single, scored from second on a throwing error by first baseman Alvarez. With Derek Norris aboard ono a single, Alvarez fielded Cory Spangenberg's single and tried to force Norris at second but it hit him in the helmet for an error, allowing Kemp to score.
Ross allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits in six innings, struck out two and walked two.
 

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