Late rally propels Padres past Pirates

David Peralta belted a two-run homer and Luis Arraez had an RBI double to help the visiting San Diego Padres complete a three-game series sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 7-6 win on Thursday afternoon.

The Padres have won five straight games and 14 of their last 16 games.

San Diego seized a 7-5 lead in the ninth inning off closer David Bednar (3-4), who was tagged with a blown save for the second straight game. Bednar allowed a single and pair of walks to load the bases while recording one out.

Kyle Higashioka grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill to score on an error by shortstop Oneil Cruz. Higashioka scored on a double from Arraez.

Jason Adam (6-2) earned the win after working one scoreless inning of relief. Robert Suarez allowed one run in the ninth inning on Rowdy Tellez's single before picking up the save.

The Pirates have lost four in a row and six of their last seven games.

In the seventh inning, Joey Bart crushed a fastball over the wall in left field for a two-run homer and give Pittsburgh a 5-4 lead.

The Pirates had just two hits through the first five innings but capitalized on Padres' pitching troubles in the sixth to narrow a four-run deficit to 4-3.

Bryan Reynolds led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Cruz, who went 3-for-5. Tellez and Bryan De La Cruz each connected for a two-out single, ending starter Randy Vasquez's day.

Carl Edwards Jr., appearing in his first game in the majors since June 2023, took over but failed to retire a hitter.

A passed ball allowed Tellez to come in to narrow it to 4-2 and Ji Hwan Bae pulled Pittsburgh to within one when he drove in De La Cruz with a single.

Manny Machado's 18th home run of the season opened the scoring in the first, knocking in a two-run shot to left to give San Diego a 2-0 lead.

In the second, Merrill hit a lead-off single and Peralta connected on a cutter that bounced off the fence behind the seats in right field and out, extending it to 4-0.

--Field Level Media