Padres hand Pirates 2nd straight loss, 5-2


September 17, 2013 at 10:39p.m.

Padres hand Pirates 2nd straight loss, 5-2

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jedd Gyorko blasted a 3-run homer among his three hits and the San Diego Padres topped the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Ronny Cedeno added three hits for San Diego, which beat the Pirates for the second straight night to put a dent in Pittsburgh’s pursuit of its first NL Central title. St. Louis and Pittsburgh entered the day tied for first in the division.

Luke Gregerson worked the ninth for his fourth save.

Eric Stults (9-13) allowed two runs over five innings to pick up his first win in more than two months. Stults struck out five and walked one.

Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 3 and Marlon Byrd drove in both of Pittsburgh’s runs, but the Pirates continued to have problems with the Padres.

Jeff Locke (10-6) struggled with his command, allowing four runs and seven hits in five innings, striking out five and walking three as his second-half struggles reappeared.