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SAN DIEGO -- Nick Gonzales led off the 12th inning with an RBI single and the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped their three-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.
Esmerlyn Valdez homered and Rafael Flores Jr. had an RBI double in the sixth for the Pirates, who rebounded from getting swept at Dodger Stadium last weekend with just their 11th win in 31 games.
Off reliever Luke Weaver, Jake Cronenworth tied it in the eighth with a two-out RBI single for the Padres, whose three-game winning streak ended with only their eighth loss in 29 games. San Diego's eight-game home winning streak also ended.
San Diego loaded the bases with one out in the 11th, but Kirby Yates (2-5) struck out Jackson Merrill and got Xander Bogaerts to line out. Merrill went 0 for 5 on his bobblehead night, striking out on three pitches with the bases loaded in both the eighth and 11th, and also failed to make a diving catch on Flores' RBI double.
After Jared Triolo scored on Gonzales' single off Jeremiah Estrada (2-3), Yohan Ramirez struck out the side in the 12th to earn his second save.
Braxton Ashcraft pitched six strong innings of four-hit ball for Pittsburgh. He has allowed just three runs over 23 innings in his last three starts.
Robbie Ray dueled Ashcraft through five scoreless innings before Valdez led off the sixth with a 414-foot shot to center field. Ray allowed five hits and struck out five in his fourth start for the Padres.
Freddy Fermin doubled later in the sixth and eventually scored on Ashcraft's balk.
Padres closer Mason Miller allowed two baserunners and barely escaped a ninth-inning jam while facing his hometown team on his 28th birthday.
Making a move
The Pirates recalled right-handed pitcher Noah Murdock from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. They optioned right-handed pitcher Khristian Curtis to Indianapolis.
The 28-year-old Murdock is in his fourth stint with the Pirates this season. He was appointed as the team's 27th man for its doubleheaders on July 11 vs. Milwaukee and July 22 at New York (AL), but he did not pitch in either game.
He was also with Pittsburgh from July 29-August 3, making scoreless appearances on July 30 at Cincinnati and Aug. 2 at Cincinnati before being optioned back to Indianapolis following the game.
He has gone a combined 2-4 with one save, a 4.12 ERA, 54 strikeouts and a .197 batting average against (31-for-157) in 34 minor league appearances split between Low-A Bradenton, Double-A Altoona and Indianapolis this season.