Pirates Feel at Home in San Francisco

Dale Sveum won’t argue with success, and he sees no reason to tempt fate by trying to explain it.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have dominated the Giants in San Francisco by winning 10 of the last 11 games they’ve played there.

Sveum kept the Pirates on a roll by driving in three runs with a home run and a double that capped a six-run sixth inning Saturday as Pittsburgh beat the Giants, 10-3.

The Pirates improved to 4-5 on their longest trip of the season, a 12-game stretch that ends with games at Dodger Stadium on Monday and Tuesday.

“Certain teams play well in certain places or from certain matchups teams get, but it’s nothing you can explain,” Sveum said. “It’s just baseball.”

The slumping Giants have lost three games in a row for the first time since May 6-9 and have won only six of their 17 games since the All-Star break.

“This is a quality team. You definitely have to come in here with your best game because you know if you don’t, they’re going to give it to you,” Pittsburgh’s Al Martin said. “It seems like every time we come here, we come off some big losses or something and we just find a way to step it up a little bit.”

Pittsburgh starter Esteban Loaiza (8-7) gave up three runs in the fifth, when San Francisco took a one-run lead, but the Pirates came back with six runs in the sixth inning on five hits and three walks.

San Francisco starter Doug Creek (1-2), recalled from triple-A Phoenix to replace disabled pitcher Pat Rapp, was plagued by control problems. He gave up four runs in five innings with seven walks and six strikeouts.

Kevin Polcovich had three hits and three runs scored for the Pirates. Tony Womack drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth and scored two runs.

Barry Bonds became the 61st player in major-league history to steal 400 bases when he stole third in the fifth, but he was more concerned with the Giants’ recent play.

“We’ve just hit a brick wall for a while,” Bonds said. “But the good thing is we can turn it around again.”

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NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERS

WHO: Pittsburgh Pirates

WHERE: Dodger Stadium

WHEN: Monday: 7 p.m.

Tuesday: 1 p.m.