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Pirates hope for another fast start against Padres

May 3, 2011 - 3:10 PM (Sports Network) - Four runs on two homers in the first inning was all the Pittsburgh Pirates needed to beat the San Diego Padres in Monday's series opener from Petco Park.

The Pirates shoot for an encore performance tonight in the continuation of a six-game road swing against the Padres. Garrett Jones and Chris Snyder each belted two-run homers in the opening frame to back starter James McDonald, who got the win by holding San Diego to two runs in six innings with five strikeouts and only one walk.

"I feel like I'm getting there," McDonald said on the club's website. "I still have a lot of work to do."

Jose Veras, Chris Resop and Joel Hanrahan each tossed an inning of relief, with Hanrahan collecting his ninth save in the ninth. Xavier Paul registered a team-best two hits for the Pirates, who are 3-1 on the trek and snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Padres.

Taking the mound for Pittsburgh on Tuesday will be Jeff Karstens. Karstens opened the season 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA in his initial five appearances, but is coming off last Thursday's 5-2 loss versus San Francisco in which he permitted five runs -- two earned -- and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Karstens began the season in the bullpen and is still searching for his first career victory against the Friars. The righty and native of San Diego is 0-3 with a 5.65 ERA in four games (2 starts) in this series.

The Padres hope to get promising young hurler Mat Latos on track when he makes his fifth start of the season Tuesday. Latos, who began the season on the disabled list with a shoulder issue, has lost every start so far in 2011, including last Wednesday's 7-0 loss versus Atlanta.

Latos gave up a season-high six runs, one of which was earned, and seven hits in five innings with five K's and one walk. The right-hander will face the Pirates for the second time in his career and beat them back on July 24 last season at PNC Park. He tossed six innings of two-run ball in the 9-2 triumph.

San Diego lost for the eighth time in 11 tries on Monday, when Aaron Harang surrendered a pair of two-run homers in the opening frame. Harang was charged with four runs and five hits in five innings to take the loss.

"This was a tough one," Harang said. "We just got to keep going day-by-day."

Jorge Cantu belted a two-run homer and Ryan Ludwick added two hits, including an RBI single, for the Padres.

San Diego won all six matchups with Pittsburgh a year ago, including all three contests at Petco Park.