Pirates 2, Padres 1: Vance Worley allowed one run in seven strong innings to lift host Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series.

Gregory Polanco had three hits and an RBI and Josh Harrison added three hits and scored a run to spark the Pirates to their third straight win. Worley (5-1) struck out seven and allowed five hits to improve to 3-0 in four starts since the All-Star break.

Everth Cabrera and Yangervis Solarte had two hits apiece for San Diego, which lost for only the third time in nine games. Ian Kennedy (8-10) took the loss despite permitting two runs - one earned - and seven hits over six innings.

Cabrera led off the game with a double, moved to third on a bunt and scored on Smith's sacrifice fly, but Pittsburgh scored twice in the bottom of the frame when Harrison tripled and scored on a single by Polanco, who eventually came home on Ike Davis' sacrifice fly. Both teams failed to score after loading the bases with no outs - the Pirates in the third inning and San Diego in the sixth.

Tony Watson pitched a scoreless eighth for Pittsburgh before closer Mark Melancon struck out the side in a perfect ninth to register his 21st save and keep the Pirates 1 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Harrison extending his hitting streak to 12 games and has multiple hits seven times during that span. ... Padres 1B Yonder Alonso is 8-for-13 during a four-game hitting streak. ... Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez was activated from the bereavement list and RHP Ernesto Frieri was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for him.