Pirates Pile On Runs to Snap Padres Win Streak

San Diego's 11-game streak of dominance at PNC Park ended yesterday when the Pirates offense exploded with 11 runs to salvage the final game of the series. Our Padres came out firing. Chris Denorfia led off the game with a solo home run. Logan Forsythe followed with a walk, then Carlos Quentin was hit by a pitch (Weird!), and Jesus Guzman hit an RBI single. Cameron Maybin got on base on a force attempt and an error allowed two runs to come home to. An inning later, Forsythe doubled and then scored on an RBI groundout by Chase Headley, so by the end of the 2nd, our Padres had taken an early 5-0 lead and it looked like we were destined for yet another win.

But Ross Ohlendorf's former team wasn't going to let him get off easy. They got one run back in the third when pitcher Erik Bedard doubled and then came home on an RBI single by Neil Walker. But the 4th inning was when everything fell apart.

A walk, an error, and a single loaded the bases. Another walk brought in the first run of the inning. Then Clint Barmes hit a grand slam to give the Pirates a one-run lead. With still no outs in the inning, Ohlendorf walked the next batter. That was when Bud Black called on Cory Burns to take over on the mound and try to stop the bleeding.

It didn't stop, however. After striking out the first batter he faced, Burns gave up a single, a double, and a triple to give Pittsburgh a four-run lead. Another walk and, later, an RBI single topped off the inning. The damage was nine runs and the Pirates led 10-5.

Our Padres never came back, failing to score any more runs after the 2nd inning. The Pirates added on with a solo homer by Neil Walker in the 7th. The home run went under review, but the call stood. Pittsburgh held on to win 11-5 and end their 11-game home losing streak to San Diego.