Schmidt Regains His Winning Ways

Jason Schmidt pitched seven strong innings and Kevin Polcovich homered and scored three times Friday as the Pittsburgh Pirates ended a losing streak at three games by defeating the San Francisco Giants, 5-2.

Pittsburgh is 3-7 in its last 10 games, while San Francisco had its lead in the National League West reduced to three games over the Dodgers.

Schmidt (5-6) gave up both runs--one earned--while striking out six and walking four. He won for the first time since successive complete-game victories on June 27 and July 2.

Kevin Young went three for four and drove in one run and Jermaine Allensworth had two hits and two runs batted in as Pittsburgh improved to 9-1 in its last 10 games at San Francisco.

Barry Bonds had three of the Giants’ six hits, including his 27th home run. He tied Joe DiMaggio for 43rd on the career list with 361 homers.

Bonds singled and Jeff Kent walked to open the sixth. On a double steal, catcher Jason Kendall’s throw sailed past third baseman Dale Sveum, allowing Bonds to score.

After walking J.T. Snow, Schmidt retired the next three batters, striking out Stan Javier, getting Bill Mueller on a fly ball and Rick Wilkins on a grounder.

Ricardo Rincon pitched a scoreless eighth before Rich Loiselle got the last three outs for his 15th save.

Polcovich led off the third with a home run, making it 3-0. Bonds answered by connecting for a homer in the Giants’ half of the third.

The Pirates added a run in the fourth on Allensworth’s RBI single, and scored in the sixth when Javier dropped Schmidt’s fly ball in right field for an error.

Allensworth started off Pittsburgh’s two-run first with a bloop double to right. After Al Martin walked, Young had an RBI single and Sveum followed with a sacrifice fly.

Kirk Rueter (7-5) gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out two.

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Next Series for the Dodgers

Who: Pittsburgh Pirates

Where: Dodger Stadium

When: Monday: 7p.m.

Tuesday: 1 p.m.