Morton leads Pirates to rare win
PITTSBURGH — Charlie Morton helped the Pittsburgh Pirates get an all-too-rare victory in the closing days of another lost season.
Morton allowed one run in seven innings as the Pirates won for only the third time in their past 20 games, pinning a 5-1 loss on 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 he shook off a rough first inning Friday to allow only six hits and a walk.
"I think he's gaining confidence a little bit, starting to feel a little more comfortable in what he's doing," Pirates manager John Russell said. "He's young and we've got to continue to build off this. He has made very good strides. If we can get him a little more consistent game in and game out and maintain that, he's going to be good. He has great stuff — if we can get him in the zone like he was tonight."
Lastings Milledge went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Garrett Jones was on base three times for last-place Pittsburgh (56-89), which entered the contest 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.
Morton, acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the Nate McLouth trade June 3, did not allow a hit with a runner on base during the game. He has allowed three runs or less in five of his past seven outings.
"I found my curveball was working, even early in counts, and to be able to get ahead with the curveball is huge for me," Morton said.
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.
