Morton, Barmes lead Pirates to 3-1 win over Giants

Charlie Morton pitched seven strong innings and Clint Barmes hit a three-run homer as the Pirates defeated the Giants Friday night, 3-1.

Morton pitched 7.2 innings, striking out three, walking one and generating 12 ground ball outs. His only run came in the fourth, when Buster Posey doubled and Roger Kieschnick brought him home with a fly ball that Jordy Mercer couldn't handle over his shoulder.

In the seventh, the Pirates finally got to Madison Bumgarner, as Gaby Sanchez and Josh Harrison singled and Barmes took an awkward swing at a low pitch somehow golfed it for a line-drive homer. That would be more than enough for Morton, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon.

Incidentally, the Pirates now have 76 wins. They'd have to go 5-29, or worse, for the rest of the season to avoid their first winning season since 1992. I finally feel pretty comfortable calling this. So let's make this fun. If the Pirates have a losing season, I will write and record a song about how I'm even worse at writing about baseball than the Pirates are at finishing seasons. I will, also, write and sing the song in the style of an artist of your choosing. So get your votes in now.