SAN DIEGO — The Padres earned a spilt of their four-game series with the Pirates by thumping Pittsburgh 7-1 on Sunday night.
Third baseman Will Middlebrooks hit a home run and had three RBIs in pacing San Diego. Shortstop Clint Barmes and left fielder Justin Upton each had three hits.
The Padres scored seven runs in the first four innings, which was more than enough for starter Odrisamer Despaigne (3-3), who pitched a career-high eight innings, allowing one run on seven hits. He struck out four and walked one.
Cory Mazzoni pitched the ninth for the Padres.
Jeff Locke (3-3) took the loss after working four innings, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on eight hits. He had three strikeouts and three walks in failing to win for the second consecutive time.
May 31, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks (R) is congratulated by right fielder Matt Kemp (27) after driving him in with a two run home run during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco. (Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)
Of late Despaigne has become a reliable stater, although he doesn’t have much to show for it.
In his last outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Despaigne didn’t allow a run in 5 2/3 innings, but got a no-decision.
In his appearance before that against the Chicago Cubs, he took the loss despite giving up two runs in six innings.
But support wasn’t an issue against the Pirates as the Padres shelled Locke.
The Pirates’ lone run came in the seventh when right fielder Gregory Polanco hit his third home run of the season.
Middlebrooks’ sacrifice fly in the fourth was good for his third RBI and pushed the Padres ahead 7-0.
San Diego increased its cushion to 6-0 in the third when Barmes’ one-out single chased home center fielder Will Venable. That was after Middlebrooks redirected a 90 mph Locke fastball for a homer. Before Middlebrooks smacked his seventh home run, second only to left fielder Justin Upton (12) on the team, right fielder Matt Kemp singled.
The Padres grew their lead to 3-0 in the second inning, with a little help from the Pirates.
Barmes opened with a single and was sacrificed to second by Despaigne. Catcher Derek Norris hit a line drive that went off first baseman’s Pedro Alvarez’s glove for an error, allowing Barmes to score.
A two-run first inning gave Despaigne some breathing room. Solarte singled, then Norris and Kemp walked. Second baseman Jedd Gyorko followed with a broken-bat single to center field, with Yangervis Solarte and Norris scoring.
NOTES: Padres OF Wil Myers (wrist) is working in the batting cage, although there is no timetable for his return. … San Diego 1B Yonder Alonso (shoulder) continues his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A El Paso. So far, he reported no setbacks. … Padres RHP Brandon Morrow (shoulder) will pitch for Double-A San Antonio on Tuesday. … In manager Clint Hurdle’s five seasons with Pittsburgh, the Pirates have never had a losing mark in May. … Pittsburgh SS Jung Ho Kang was back in the lineup after getting Saturday off. … The Pirates continue their 10-game, 11-day road trip Monday when they open a three-game series in San Francisco. … The Padres play host to the New York Mets in a three-game series that starts Monday.
