MLB: Pirates get a rare win, 5-1 over Padres

PITTSBURGH — Charlie Morton allowed one run in seven innings, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates win for only the third time in their past 20 games, 5-1 over the San Diego Padres Friday night.

Morton (4-8) had lost six of his past seven decisions and had a 7.13 ERA since the beginning of August but shook off a rough first inning Friday to allow only six hits and a walk to win for only the second time since July 18.

Lastings Milledge went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Garrett Jones was on base three times for last-place Pittsburgh, which entered the game on a three-game losing streak and having lost eight of nine.

Jesse Chavez and Matt Capps each pitched a scoreless inning to wrap up the Pirates' first victory by more than one run since a 6-4 win against the Philadelphia Phillies Aug. 25.

Everth Cabrera went 3 for 4 and scored a run for the Padres, who have lost three of four after a stretch in which they went 9-3.

After the Padres took a 1-0 lead against Morton in the top of the first on Adrian Gonzalez's sacrifice fly, Pittsburgh scored three times in the bottom of the inning on only two hits.

Tim Stauffer (4-7) allowed triples by Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Moss along with four walks. Moss drove in two runs with his hit, and Milledge added a sacrifice line-out to right-center.

Neither team scored again until the seventh, when Ryan Doumit's single drove in McCutchen. McCutchen added a sacrifice fly in the eighth to make it 5-1.

The Padres won each of Stauffer's previous four outings. After allowing only one run in six-plus innings during each of the past three games, Stauffer gave up three runs on four hits and four walks in three innings.

NOTES: The Pirates hit two triples for an inning for only the second time this season and did so during the first inning for the first time since Aug. 11, 2005 at Colorado. ... Stauffer threw 40 pitches in the first inning. ... Pittsburgh 2B Delwyn Young missed his second consecutive game due to lower back spasms and 3B Andy LaRoche was a late scratch because of illness. ... The game was the beginning of the final homestand of the season for the Pirates and the final roadtrip of the season for the Padres.