SAN DIEGO — The Pittsburgh Pirates nearly kept up their winning road ways, but will have to wait to hit that elusive .500 mark.

The Pirates held a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, when relievers Mike Crotta and Joe Beimel combined to allow San Diego to tie the score. Rob Johnson then homered in the eighth off Beimel to give San Diego a 6-5 win on Tuesday night.

After going 17-64 on the road last year, Pirates came in with a 10-7 road record. Pittsburgh fell to 14-16 overall.

Heath Bell came on in the ninth inning and tied Trevor Hoffman’s club record with his 41st consecutive save, but not before the Pirates threatened.

Bell walked Brandon Wood to lead off the ninth. After a sacrifice bunt, Bell bounced a pitch in the dirt and Wood took off for third base. Johnson pounced on the ball and fired a low strike to Chase Headley for the second out. Bell then struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit to end the game.

“You see (the ball) in the dirt and it’s just a reaction to take off,” Wood said. “In that situation, I felt comfortable with it. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle wasn’t sure Wood’s play was smart.

“You’re already in scoring position and if you’re safe, we’re all happy,” Hurdle said. “But he pushed the envelope a little bit. At times you have to be smart, so when you’re out at third like that, it never looks good.”

Johnson’s first home run of the season came off Beimel (0-1) and gave the Padres just their fifth home win in 17 games, still the majors’ worst home record.

Bell’s 41st consecutive save, and seventh in seven chances this year, tied the team record set by Hoffman, the career saves leader. It also tied Bell with Hoffman and Rod Beck for fourth place on the all-time list.

Mike Adams (1-0) pitched one inning for the win.

The home run was Johnson’s first since last May 18, when he played for Seattle.

Starting pitcher Mat Latos and Eric Patterson also homered for San Diego.