Pittsburgh, PA (Best E Casino) - Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie and Josh Bard added a solo shot in the ninth, as the San Diego Padres defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-1, in the finale of a four-game set at PNC Park.

Bard finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, for San Diego, which took three of four in the series. The Padres have won three in a row after dropping nine of their previous 10.

Jake Peavy (8-6) earned the victory after working seven solid innings. The right-hander allowed one run on four hits, while fanning 10 and walking three. Peavy, a 19-game winner last season, improved to 5-1 in seven lifetime starts against the Pirates. Trevor Hoffman recorded his 21st save of the season after pitching a perfect ninth inning.

"I knew going in that he (Maholm) had been throw well," Peavy said. "I knew I was matched up against their best guy. I had to put up some zero's. I had to show up today to match him (Maholm) and fortunately I did."

Adam LaRoche accounted for the Pirates lone run with an RBI single. Pittsburgh has lost three straight after winning its previous four.

"We were forced to swing at some pitches we normally wouldn't swing at to put it nicely," LaRoche said. "For Paul (Maholm) to shut them down like he did and like he's done, to keep us in it, we're right there. It just wasn't our day."

Paul Maholm pitched to a no-decision despite giving up one run on four hits over seven innings. The veteran lefty struck out nine and issued three walks. He is now 5-2 in his last 11 starts. John Grabow (5-3) suffered the loss after surrendering two runs on three hits in two innings.

With the game knotted at 1-1 after eight innings, Hairston's one-out solo homer to left put the Padres ahead. Edgar Gonzalez then hit a ground-rule double, but was stranded after the next two batters were retired.

Bard gave San Diego a little breathing room when he slammed a 3-2 fastball over the center field fence to make it a 3-1 game.

Hoffman was brought on for the ninth and put the Pirates down in turn to preserve the win.

With the game scoreless after three innings, the Padres were able to manufacture a run in the top of the fourth. Adrian Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to start the frame and Kevin Kouzmanoff followed with a seeing-eye single to center, putting runners on first and second. After Chase Headley went down on strikes, Bard's single to left brought home Gonzalez, giving San Diego a 1-0 advantage.

The lead was short lived as the Pirates were able to tie things in the home half of the fourth. Nate McLouth drew a one-out walk and after Jason Bay struck out swinging, McLouth stole second and came around on LaRoche's RBI single.

Game Notes

San Diego opens a six-game homestand on Monday night against Arizona, while the Pirates host Colorado for the start of a three-game series...The Padres finished 3-7 (prior to game) on their 11-game road trip...San Diego was 6-1 against the Bucs last season and has won 13 of the 15 meetings (prior to game) since the start of the 2006 campaign...Freddy Sanchez left the game in the top of the second inning due to back spasms after trying to leg out a ground ball in the bottom of the first.