Ludwick’s 2 HRs carry Padres to 4-1 win over Pirates

Ludwick’s 2 HRs carry Padres to 4-1 win over Bucs

SAN DIEGO — Ryan Ludwick hit his first two homers with San Diego, reaching 100 for his career and leading the Padres to a 4-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

San Diego’s Wade LeBlanc tied his career high with eight strikeouts to win for just the second time in six starts. Pittsburgh’s Jeff Karstens, making his first start in his hometown, lost his sixth straight decision.

The NL West-leading Padres (65-46) have the best record in the NL while the Pirates (39-73) have the worst.

Ludwick, acquired from St. Louis in a three-team trade on July 31, homered to left on Karstens’ first pitch of the second. He hit an 0-1 pitch off Wil Ledezma to straightaway center leading off the seventh for a 3-1 lead. It was his 13th this season.

LeBlanc got his first career RBI with a two-out single to left-center in the second that brought in Yorvit Torrealba, who walked and advanced on Chris Denorfia’s slow roller for an infield single. Denorfia was thrown out trying to take third on LeBlanc’s single.

Pittsburgh’s Jose Tabata reached with two outs in the third when his grounder glanced off second baseman Jerry Hairston Jr.’s glove. It was ruled a hit. Neil Walker followed with a walk and Pedro Alvarez singled in Tabata.

Hairston had an RBI infield single in the eighth.

LeBlanc (6-10) allowed one run and five hits in 5 2-3 innings, with two walks. Karstens (2-8) allowed two runs and three hits in six innings, struck out three and walked one.

Heath Bell pitched the ninth for his 32nd save in 35 chances.

NOTES: Padres RHP Chris Young said he felt good after throwing 40 pitches in a bullpen session as he continues to work his way back from a strained shoulder that has forced him to miss all but one start this season. Since this is only a three-game homestand, Young’s next bullpen session is expected to be during a road trip that starts Friday with three games at San Francisco. Young went on the disabled list on April 12, a move that was retroactive to April 7. He had arthroscopic surgery last August. … LeBlanc has struck out eight batters three times, most recently on June 29 against Colorado. … LeBlanc is 12 for 37 (.324) this season. … Ludwick had his 11th career multihomer game; all have been two-homer games. His most recent was June 7 at the Los Angeles Dodgers. … Miguel Tejada went 0 for 4 to drop to 8 for 41 (.195) with three RBIs in 10 games with the Padres.