San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano (right) forces a home plate hit against Pittsburgh Pirates’ Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7), trying to score from third on Ji Hwan Bae’s fielder’s choice in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. The Padres won 9-8 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jackson Merrill hit two home runs, Xander Bogaerts hit the game-winning three-run home run in the 10th inning and the San Diego Padres cruised to a 9-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

Bogaerts started the 10th inning with a line hit to left field from Colin Holderman (3-5), scoring automatic runner Luis Arraez. The Padres added two more runs on Manny Machado’s sacrifice bunt and catcher Yasmani Grandal’s error.

The Padres needed extra runs when the Pirates took the lead with a bases-loaded walk by Tanner Scott (7-5) and a wild throw by Adrian Morejon. Morejon came in relief with runners on second and third base and never got out, earning the first save of his career.

San Diego is 13-3 since the All-Star break and entered play four games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West.

The Pirates lost three straight games for the first time since May 7-10 and fell below . 500 with a 56-57 record.

Merrill went 4 for 6 on the night with three RBIs, including a solo shot with one out in the ninth inning to tie the score 6-6. That home run ended Pirates closer David Bednar’s streak of 19 consecutive saves.

With the Pirates leading by one in the eighth inning and runners on second and third base, Aroldis Chapman ended the threat by throwing a 104.7 mph third strike to Machado.

Machado, Donovan Solano and Kyle Higashioka, who hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning, each had two hits for the Padres.

Andrew McCutchen had two hits, including a solo homer in the fourth inning, and three RBIs for the Pirates. Bryan Reynolds added two hits and two RBIs, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ke’Bryan Hayes each had two hits.

Padres starter Michael King allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and had seven strikeouts after missing his previous start due to soreness in his left calf.

Pirates starter Marco Gonzales allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: Oneil Cruz (illness) was out for the second night in a row but entered the game in the sixth inning and remained in the game at shortstop.

Padres: LF Jurickson Profar left the game in the sixth inning shortly after being hit by a pitch just below his right knee. He initially remained in the game, but was substituted for pinch runner Ha-Seong Kim. Kim did not start for the second straight game, but remained in the game as shortstop.

NEXT

The three-game series concludes Thursday afternoon when Padres right-handed pitcher Randy Vasquez (3-6, 6.42 ERA) faces Pirates right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz (5-2, 2.31).