Pirates 11, Padres 5

Thank heavens -- after a series that had been a disaster so far, the Pirates finally managed to pull off what looked to be an easy win against Ross Ohlendorf and the Padres. Neil Walker went 5-for-5 with a homer and a double, and Clint Barmes hit a grand slam, and the Bucs won 11-5.

The first inning began in characteristic fashion for the Pirates, with the Padres' Chris Denorfia leading off with a solo home run. The Friars scored three more runs in the first, thanks in part to Barmes' throwing error, then added another in the second . Gulp.

The Pirates got a run back in the third on a run-scoring single by Neil Walker, then really went nuts in the fourth -- the first three batters reached base (thanks in part to an error by Chase Headley). Then Ohlendorf walked in a run. Then Barmes hit a line-drive homer off the left-field foul pole, and the Pirates took a 6-5 lead.

The Bucs weren't done. Ohlendorf walked Erik Bedard, and the Padres replaced Ohlendorf with Cory Burns. Starling Marte struck out, but Walker singled, then came home along with Bedard on Andrew McCutchen's double. Then Garrett Jones tripled. A few batters later, Michael McKenry brought home Jones with a single. When all was said and done, the Pirates scored nine runs in the inning, a remarkable outburst for a team that has struggled all weekend. In the seventh, Walker put a cherry on top with a solo homer to right that held up on review.