PITTSBURGH — The Pirates continued to enjoy the open road Wednesday night with their fifth road series win of the year in a 7-4 thrashing of the San Diego Padres.

Leading 1-0 going in to the third inning, the Pirates blew things open with six runs.

“There was change over the winter, and I think by the time spring training came, I think they felt, ‘We’ve got a new start,’” Clint Hurdle said of his team’s positive play on the road and so far this seson. “Lessons needed to be learned from taking the whupping that they took last year. In life you’re going to take some whuppings.

“When you learn from them, they can be productive. If you’re just taking whuppings and not learning anything, that’s when it gets painful.”

With the bases loaded, Neil Walker singled to center to drive in Andrew McCutchen and Xavier Paul. Steve Pearce walked to lad the bases again, and Ryan Doumit followed with a grand slam to left center for a 7-1 Pirates lead.

“I know I hit mine very well, and at the bare minimum I was going to get a double out of it,” Doumit said. “It was one of those things where luck was on my side today.”

That was more than enough run production for starter Kevin Correia, who pitched six innings, allowing just two runs on five hits and striking out three.

“He’s been a lot of the reason why we’ve had some success on the road,” Hurdle said. “You like a guy to jump out and be the lead dog in the dogsled and that’s what he’s done in the rotation. He’s jumped out. He’s setting the bar and the guys are following.”

Chris Resop and Daniel McCutchen combined to pitch the seventh and eighth innings, allowing just one hit. Jose Veras came in to close the game out in the ninth inning and struggled, but still managed to close the game out.

Veras allowed solo homers to Brad Hawpe and Eric Patterson before striking out Rob Johnson and getting Will Venable to fly out to right.

At the time of the game’s end, the Pirates led all of Major League Baseball in road victories.

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Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
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Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com