4-run second propels Padres over Pirates

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Aaron Cunningham’s triple started San Diego on a four-run second inning and the first-place Padres again took advantage of an early lead and their strong bullpen to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3 on Friday night.

Kevin Correia (7-6) gave up three runs, two earned, over six innings to win his second in a row after going winless in seven starts.

Correia also contributed a run-scoring single as the Padres jumped out to their 4-0 lead against Paul Maholm (6-8), ending the left-hander’s streak of 16 consecutive scoreless innings.

Getting ahead early is a trademark of these surprising Padres, whose 56-39 record is the NL’s best. They are 42-15 when scoring first, but 14-24 when they don’t.

With Adrian Gonzalez, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Will Venable hitting sacrifice flies, the Padres also improved their NL-best road record to 26-20, even after losing six of their previous nine since July 6.

Cunningham’s leadoff triple in the second was followed by a walk, two singles including Correia’s sharply hit RBI single into left field, Chris Denorfia’s run-scoring double and the Hairston and Gonzalez sacrifice flies.

Pittsburgh, losing its fourth in eight games at home since the All-Star break, managed to get within 4-3 with the help of Lastings Milledge’s two-run single in the fourth and Ronny Cedeno’s leadoff double in the fifth.

But a Padres bullpen that easily leads the NL with a 2.84 ERA closed out Pittsburgh with three scoreless innings — one each by Ernesto Frieri, Luke Gregerson and Heath Bell.

Bell finished up in the ninth for his 28th save in 31 opportunities as San Diego improved to 5-2 since the break.

Pirates rookie Neil Walker went hitless in three at-bats with a walk following six consecutive multiple-hit games.