PHOENIX (AP) – Nick Hundley homered and the San Diego Padres held on for a 7-6 victory Sunday that snapped the Arizona Diamondbacks’ franchise-record home winning streak at 15 games.

Hundley, Jesus Guzman and James Darnell had two RBIs apiece for the Padres, who ended a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in seven games.

San Diego starter Wade LeBlanc (3-5) went 5 2-3 innings and allowed four runs and four hits while snapping a personal three-game losing streak. Heath Bell, who allowed two homers in the ninth on Saturday, got three outs for his 37th save in 42 chances.

Henry Blanco homered and Chris Young added a two-run double for the NL West-leading Diamondbacks.

Backed by LeBlanc’s one-hit pitching over the first five innings, San Diego built a 7-0 lead against Josh Collmenter (9-9).

Darnell drove in Hundley with an RBI single in the second, then hit a sacrifice fly in the third. Guzman had an RBI single and Anthony Rizzo drew a bases-loaded walk in the third to put the Padres ahead 4-0.

Hundley hit a two-run shot in the fifth for his eighth homer, giving San Diego a 6-0 lead and ending Collmenter’s day. Guzman added a run-scoring double in the seventh.

Then the Diamondbacks made things interesting.

Blanco, Arizona’s regular Sunday catcher, led off the sixth with a line drive over the wall in left. Reliever Zach Duke singled to center, Gerardo Parra reached on a one-out single and Paul Goldschmidt walked to load the bases and chase LeBlanc.

Chris Young hit a two-run double to left off Erik Hamren, and Colin Cowgill brought home Goldschmidt and Young with a single to center that trimmed San Diego’s lead to 7-5.

The Diamondbacks pulled within one in the seventh when Blanco singled, went to second when pinch-hitter Geoff Blum was hit by a pitch and scored on pinch-hitter Justin Upton’s groundout.

Collmenter gave up six runs and seven hits, walked three and struck out two.

NOTES: Arizona’s last home loss was on August 8, a 9-1 defeat against the Houston Astros. The Diamondbacks won the next three games of the series to begin a seven-game winning streak. . Darnell has driven in five runs in his past two games. . The Padres dropped their formal protest of the Diamondbacks’ 6-5, extra-inning victory on Saturday.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Updated Sep 11, 2011 1:29 AM ET

PHOENIX (AP)

On a night when Arizona celebrated its Game 7 World Series thriller of a decade ago, the 2011 Diamondbacks managed some ninth-inning heroics of their own.

Chris Young and Lyle Overbay hit consecutive home runs off Heath Bell in the ninth to send the game into extra innings, then Joe Thatcher walked Overbay on four pitches in the 10th to bring in the winning run in Arizona’s 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

Overbay, who had the winning hit Friday night, had the distinction of being part of the pregame and postgame celebration, because he was a Diamondbacks rookie in 2001.

The ninth-inning uprising came seconds after the big screen showed Luis Gonzalez’s ninth-inning bloop single against Mariano Rivera that gave Arizona its World Series triumph and the state’s only major professional sports championship.

”Tonight was the perfect night to play the game that we played,” Young said. ”You know, sold-out crowd, just all the energy from the 2001 championship team being here, it was amazing.”

The Diamondbacks stretched their franchise-record home winning streak to 15 games — the longest in the majors this season. They have won 16 of 19 overall.

It was the 42nd come-from-behind victory for the Diamondbacks, who widened their NL West lead over second-place San Francisco 9-1/2 games after the Giants lost at home to Los Angeles. Milwaukee also lost, so Arizona moved a half-game ahead of the NL Central-leading Brewers for a possible home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

”To be able to hit two home runs of Heath Bell, has that ever happened in the ninth inning?” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson asked. ”We were very fortunate to come back on a guy that’s so good, who has had so much success, yet we did it.”

The Padres protested the game because on the winning, bases-loaded walk, Miguel Montero, who was on second, did not touch third base. However, crew chief Tim Welke said that the applicable rule requires only that the batter who walked touch first and the runner on third touch home.

”We think that all runners have to touch each base,” manager Bud Black said, ”so we filed a protest and it is in the hands of MLB at this point.”

James Darnell had three RBIs, including his first big league home run for the Padres, who have lost 16 of 19. San Diego’s Chris Denorfia had four hits in five at bats.

Arizona’s first sellout at Chase Field since the home opener (48,017) showed up for a pregame ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Diamondbacks’ World Series triumph over the New York Yankees.

Bell, on the same field where he famously slid into the mound at this year’s All-Star Game, blew a save for the fifth time in 41 opportunities.

”I didn’t do my job big-time,” he said.

Daniel Hernandez (4-3) threw a scoreless 10th for the victory. Brad Brach (0-1) took the loss.

San Diego carried a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth but it evaporated in a hurry against Bell, who had given up two home runs all season.

”That I didn’t do my job

Young hit a 1-1 pitch into the left-field seats to make it 5-4. Overbay connected on an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field, the ball barely clearing the fence in left field for his first home run since signing with Arizona as a free agent on Aug. 13.

”It’s one of those things where I knew he was going to try to throw the fastball. He just got beat by CY with the slider,” Overbay said. ”He elevated the pitch before, so I thought he might do that again. It just didn’t get as high maybe as he wanted.”

Bell said that Overbay ”probably used the speed of my pitch” to get the power he needed.

”He got good wood on it,” he said. ”I went inside, then back away. I thought it was a pretty good pitch. It was a pretty good pitch for him to hit out apparently.”

In the 10th, Justin Upton drew a one-out walk from Brad Brach, then Miguel Montero singled to put runners at first and third. Geoff Blum was walked intentionally to bring up Young, who struck out on a 3-2 pitch. Bud Black brought in Thatcher, a sidearm-throwing lefty, to face the left-handed hitting Overbay, who walked on four pitches.

Tim Stauffer threw 5-1/3 effective innings for San Diego and got an RBI on a suicide squeeze bunt but no decision.

At their request, the Diamondbacks wore their throwback purple uniforms for the second game in a row as part of their weekend honor of the 2001 team. The crowd cheered wildly for members of that team during a pregame ceremony that included the World Series co-MVPs Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, who threw out the ceremonial first pitches. Schilling’s sailed over the head of his 2001 catcher Damian Miller.

After Darnell’s home run off starter Wade Miley put San Diego up 4-2, Luis Martinez doubled, and Micah Owings relieved Miley. Alberto Gonzalez flew out to bring up Stauffer, who laid down a perfect bunt as Martinez barreled home from third, boosting the lead to 5-2. The Diamondbacks made it 5-3 in the sixth when Upton singled and Montero extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a double high off the center field wall. Geoff Blum’s groundout brought Upton home but Montero was out at the plate attempting to score when a pitch from reliever Anthony Bass got past the catcher Martinez.

Aaron Hill and Upton singled off Chad Qualls to start the eighth but Montero grounded into a double play. Bell sprinted in to replace Qualls and got Blum to ground out to end the inning.

Notes: The leadoff batter reached base safely for San Diego in five of the first six innings and two of them scored. … The Padres 2B Gonzalez made a leaping grab to rob Aaron Hill of a base hit in the first. … Arizona is 24 games above .500 for the first time since Aug. 4, 2002. … Rookie Josh Colmenter goes for his 10th victory for Arizona and San Diego sends left-hander Wade LeBlanc (2-5) to the mound in the finale of the four-game series on Sunday. … The teams have three games remaining against each other next weekend in San Diego. … The Diamondbacks’ home-winning streak is the longest in the majors since 2004.

Read More: Miguel Montero (C – ARI), San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres notified the umpires that they were filing a protest over the outcome of their 6-5, 10th inning loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. According to the Padres, Miguel Montero didn’t touch second base after Lyly Overbay earned a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th. 

Padres manager Bud Black is absolutely correct on the facts. Montero didn’t touch third base and according to crew chief Tim Welke it doesn’t matter. Welke cited baseball rule 4.09 (b) which happens to cover this exact bases loaded, game-winning walk situation:

Official Rules | MLB.com: Official info

(b) When the winning run is scored in the last half-inning of a regulation game, or in the last half of an extra inning, as the result of a base on balls, hit batter or any other play with the bases full which forces the runner on third to advance, the umpire shall not declare the game ended until the runner forced to advance from third has touched home base and the batter-runner has touched first base. 

“It’s in the hands of major league baseball,” said Black told the San Diego Tribune. 

It likely won’t take long for MLB to laugh this one right out of their offices since the rule covers exactly what happened. Sorry Bud, we know it’s been a rough season for your team but filing a protest after the umpire explains you the rule is just kind of silly.

PHOENIX (AP) — Heath Bell is one of the last closers anyone would expect to give up consecutive ninth-inning home runs. Then again, it’s been that kind of a few weeks for the San Diego Padres.

Chris Young and Lyle Overbay homered off Bell to force extra innings, then Joe Thatcher walked Overbay on four pitches with the bases loaded to bring home the winning run in the 10th and give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 6-5 victory. Bell, with his fifth blown save in 41 tries, had allowed only two home runs all season.

“He’s got a very high percentage, one of the highest in the game over the last three years,” San Diego manager Bud Black said. “It happens to the best of them.”

The Padres have lost 16 of 19 overall. At Chase Field, they’ve dropped 20 of 24.

“We do play hard,” Black said. “We go at it every night. I am extremely proud of the effort each and every night. The last couple of weeks have been tough. They just haven’t resulted in wins. As long as we keep fighting some things will go our way.”

Arizona’s ninth-inning uprising came seconds after the big screen showed Luis Gonzalez’s ninth-inning bloop single against Mariano Rivera that gave Arizona its World Series triumph and the state’s only major professional sports championship a decade ago. That team was honored in a pre-game ceremony, a group that included Overbay, a Diamondbacks rookie in 2001.

“Tonight was the perfect night to play the game that we played,” Young said. “You know, sold-out crowd, just all the energy from the 2001 championship team being here, it was amazing.”

The Diamondbacks stretched their franchise-record home winning streak to 15 games — the longest in the majors this season. They have won 16 of 19 overall.

It was the 42nd come-from-behind victory for the Diamondbacks, who widened their NL West lead over second-place San Francisco 9½ games after the Giants lost at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Milwaukee also lost, so Arizona moved a half-game ahead of the NL Central-leading Brewers for a possible home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

“To be able to hit two home runs of Heath Bell, has that ever happened in the ninth inning?” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson asked. “We were very fortunate to come back on a guy that’s so good, who has had so much success, yet we did it.”

The Padres protested the game because on the game-winning, bases-loaded walk Miguel Montero, who was on second, did not touch third base. However, crew chief Tim Welke said that the applicable rule requires only that the batter who walked touch first and the runner on third touch home.

“We think that all runners have to touch each base,” Black said, “so we filed a protest and it is in the hands of MLB at this point.”

James Darnell had three RBIs, including his first big league home run for the Padres.

“It was a great moment but I wish I could have dome more to help the team win. maybe get a couple of more hits or do something else,” he said. “You always want to win the ball game but for me personally, it was a great moment.”

San Diego’s Chris Denorfia had four hits in five at bats.

Daniel Hernandez (4-3) threw a scoreless 10th for the victory. Brad Brach (0-1) took the loss.

San Diego carried a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth but it evaporated in a hurry against Bell, who had given up two home runs all season.

Young hit a 1-1 pitch into the left field seats to make it 5-4. Overbay connected on an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field, the ball barely clearing the fence in left field for his first home run since signing with Arizona as a free agent on Aug. 13.

Bell said that Overbay “probably used the speed of my pitch” to get the power he needed.

“He got good wood on it,” Bell said. “I went inside, then back away. I thought it was a pretty good pitch. It was a pretty good pitch for him to hit out apparently.”

In the 10th, Justin Upton drew a one-out walk from Brad Brach, then Miguel Montero singled to put runners at first and third. Geoff Blum was walked intentionally to bring up Young, who struck out on a 3-2 pitch. Bud Black brought in Thatcher, a sidearm-throwing lefty, to face the left-handed hitting Overbay, who walked on four pitches.

“I was disappointed in myself,” Thatcher said. “That was definitely unacceptable.”

Tim Stauffer threw 5 1-3 effective innings for San Diego and got an RBI on a suicide squeeze bunt but no decision.

Notes: The leadoff batter reached base safely for San Diego in five of the first six innings and two of them scored. … The Padres 2B Gonzalez made a leaping grab to rob Aaron Hill of a base hit in the first. … Arizona is 24 games above .500 for the first time since Aug. 4, 2002. … Rookie Josh Colmenter goes for his 10th victory for Arizona and San Diego sends left-hander Wade LeBlanc (2-5) to the mound in the finale of the four-game series on Sunday. … The teams have three games remaining against each other next weekend in San Diego. … The Diamondbacks’ home winning streak is the longest in the majors since 2004.

Chris Young and Lyle Overbay homered off Heath Bell in the ninth to send the game into extra innings, then Joe Thatcher walked in the winning run in the 10th to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

The Diamondbacks stretched their franchise-record, home-winning streak to 15 games — the longest in the majors this season. They have won 16 of 19 overall.

It was the 42nd come-from-behind victory for the Diamondbacks, the runaway NL West leaders who pulled a half-game ahead of NL Central leader Milwaukee for a possible home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

James Darnell had three RBIs, including his first big league home run for the Padres, who have lost 16 of 19. San Diego’s Chris Denorfia had four hits in five at bats.

Arizona’s first sellout at Chase Field since the home opener (48,017) showed up for a pregame ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Diamondbacks’ World Series triumph over the New York Yankees.

Bell, on the same field where he famously slid into the mound at this year’s All-Star Game, blew a save for the fifth time in 41 opportunities.

San Diego carried a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth but it evaporated in a hurry against Bell, who had given up two home runs all season.

Young hit a 1-1 pitch into the left field seats to make it 5-4. Overbay connected on an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field, the ball barely clearing the fence in left field for his first home run since signing with Arizona as a free agent on Aug. 13.

In the 10th, Justin Upton drew a one-out walk from Brad Brach, then Miguel Montero singled to put runners at first and third. Geoff Blum was walked intentionally to bring up Young, who struck out on a 3-2 pitch. Padres manager Bud Black brought in Thatcher, a sidearm-throwing lefty, to face the left-handed hitting Overbay, who walked on four pitches.

Tim Stauffer threw 5 1-3 effective innings for San Diego and got an RBI on a suicide squeeze bunt but no decision.

At their request, the Diamondbacks wore their throwback purple uniforms for the second game in a row as part of their weekend honor of the 2001 team. The crowd cheered wildly for members of that team during a pregame ceremony that included the World Series co-MVPs Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, who threw out the ceremonial first pitches. Schilling’s sailed over the head of his 2001 catcher Damian Miller.

After Darnell’s home run off starter Wade Miley put San Diego up 4-2, Luis Martinez doubled, and Micah Owings relieved Miley. Alberto Gonzalez flew out to bring up Stauffer, who laid down a perfect bunt as Martinez barreled home from third, boosting the lead to 5-2. The Diamondbacks made it 5-3 in the sixth when Upton singled and Montero extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a double high off the center field wall. Geoff Blum’s groundout brought Upton home but Montero was out at the plate attempting to score when a pitch from reliever Anthony Bass got past the catcher Martinez.

Aaron Hill and Upton singled off Chad Qualls to start the eighth but Montero grounded into a double play. Bell sprinted in to replace Qualls and got Blum to ground out to end the inning.

Notes: The leadoff batter reached base safely for San Diego in five of the first six innings and two of them scored. … The Padres 2B Gonzalez made a leaping grab to rob Aaron Hill of a base hit in the first. … Overbay was a rookie on Arizona’s 2001 team. … Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt turned 24 on Saturday. … Arizona is 24 games above .500 for the first time since Aug. 4, 2002. … Rookie Josh Colmenter goes for his 10th victory for Arizona and San Diego sends lefthander Wade LeBlanc (2-5) to the mound in the finale of the four-game series on Sunday. … The teams have three games remaining against each other next weekend in San Diego. … The Diamondbacks’ home-winning streak is the longest in the majors since 2004.

PHOENIX (AP)—Chris Young and Lyle Overbay(notes) homered off Heath Bell(notes) in the
ninth to send the game into extra innings, then Joe Thatcher(notes) walked in the
winning run in the 10th to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 6-5 victory over the
San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

The Diamondbacks stretched their franchise-record, home-winning streak to 15
games—the longest in the majors this season. They have won 16 of 19 overall.

It was the 42nd come-from-behind victory for the Diamondbacks, the runaway
NL West leaders who pulled a half-game ahead of NL Central leader Milwaukee for
a possible home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

James Darnell(notes) had three RBIs, including his first big league home run for
the Padres, who have lost 16 of 19. San Diego’s Chris Denorfia(notes) had four hits in
five at bats.

Arizona’s first sellout at Chase Field since the home opener (48,017) showed
up for a pregame ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Diamondbacks’
World Series triumph over the New York Yankees.

Bell, on the same field where he famously slid into the mound at this year’s
All-Star Game, blew a save for the fifth time in 41 opportunities.

San Diego carried a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth but it evaporated
in a hurry against Bell, who had given up two home runs all season.

Young hit a 1-1 pitch into the left field seats to make it 5-4. Overbay
connected on an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field, the ball barely clearing the
fence in left field for his first home run since signing with Arizona as a free
agent on Aug. 13.

In the 10th, Justin Upton(notes) drew a one-out walk from Brad Brach(notes), then Miguel
Montero(notes) singled to put runners at first and third. Geoff Blum(notes) was walked
intentionally to bring up Young, who struck out on a 3-2 pitch. Padres manager
Bud Black brought in Thatcher, a sidearm-throwing lefty, to face the left-handed
hitting Overbay, who walked on four pitches.

Tim Stauffer(notes) threw 5 1-3 effective innings for San Diego and got an RBI on a
suicide squeeze bunt but no decision.

At their request, the Diamondbacks wore their throwback purple uniforms for
the second game in a row as part of their weekend honor of the 2001 team. The
crowd cheered wildly for members of that team during a pregame ceremony that
included the World Series co-MVPs Randy Johnson(notes) and Curt Schilling, who threw
out the ceremonial first pitches. Schilling’s sailed over the head of his 2001
catcher Damian Miller.

After Darnell’s home run off starter Wade Miley(notes) put San Diego up 4-2, Luis
Martinez(notes) doubled, and Micah Owings(notes) relieved Miley. Alberto Gonzalez(notes) flew out to
bring up Stauffer, who laid down a perfect bunt as Martinez barreled home from
third, boosting the lead to 5-2. The Diamondbacks made it 5-3 in the sixth when
Upton singled and Montero extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a double
high off the center field wall. Geoff Blum’s groundout brought Upton home but
Montero was out at the plate attempting to score when a pitch from reliever
Anthony Bass(notes) got past the catcher Martinez.

Aaron Hill(notes) and Upton singled off Chad Qualls(notes) to start the eighth but Montero
grounded into a double play. Bell sprinted in to replace Qualls and got Blum to
ground out to end the inning.

Notes: The leadoff batter reached base safely for San Diego in five of the
first six innings and two of them scored. … The Padres 2B Gonzalez made a
leaping grab to rob Aaron Hill of a base hit in the first. … Overbay was a
rookie on Arizona’s 2001 team. … Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt(notes) turned 24 on
Saturday. … Arizona is 24 games above .500 for the first time since Aug. 4,
2002. … Rookie Josh Colmenter goes for his 10th victory for Arizona and San
Diego sends lefthander Wade LeBlanc(notes) (2-5) to the mound in the finale of the
four-game series on Sunday. … The teams have three games remaining against
each other next weekend in San Diego. … The Diamondbacks’ home-winning streak
is the longest in the majors since 2004.

Brockport, N.Y. – Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres promoted Brockport High graduate Andy Parrino to its team.

The 2004 Brockport High alumnus is the first non-pitcher from the Rochester area to be on the roster for a Major League Baseball team in 65 years.

The Padres drafted Parrino in the 2007 draft. He played as an infielder with minor league teams in San Antonio and Tucson this season.

In a Facebook post, Parrino wrote “Thank you everyone who has believed in me and supported me along the way.”

Parrino will join the Padres when they play the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.

SAN DIEGO — Jesus Guzman had two RBI and rookie Luis Martinez drove in the go-ahead run, leading the San Diego Padres to a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Martinez and Orlando Hudson each had an RBI single in the sixth inning as the Padres erased a 3-2 deficit. Daniel Hudson contributed to Arizona’s troubles with two walks and a hit batter in the inning.

San Diego avoided a three-game sweep and won for the second time in six games.

Luke Gregerson (3-3), the first of four Padres relievers, retired the only two batters he faced in the sixth to escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam.

The Padres scored twice in the sixth with two outs after Guzman drew a walk, stole second and scored when Orlando Hudson singled to center. After Hudson hit Kyle Blanks with a pitch, Martinez singled in the go-ahead run.

Hudson (10-7) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out six and walked two. Hudson came in 3-0 with a 0.83 ERA against the Padres in three career starts. Full Story

Blue Jays 8, Orioles 5

TORONTO — Edwin Encarnacion and Eric Thames hit back-to-back home runs, Carlos Villanueva won for the first time in five starts and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles.

Encarnacion went 3 for 4 with two RBI and scored twice for the Blue Jays, who have won 27 of 31 home games against Baltimore dating to 2008.

Acquired from St. Louis on Wednesday, outfielder Colby Rasmus made his Blue Jays debut, starting in center field and batting second. He went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts and was the only Toronto starter not to reach base.

J.J. Hardy hit two solo homers and Vladimir Guerrero also went deep for the Orioles, who have lost eight straight series. Baltimore has not won a series since taking two of three against Cincinnati from June 24-26.

Rangers 4, Twins 1

ARLINGTON, Texas — Matt Harrison worked into the eighth inning to cap his unbeaten July for AL West-leading Texas and won a pitcher’s duel against Minnesota’s Scott Baker in the Rangers’.

Harrison (9-7) allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings with two strikeouts and a walk. The left-hander won all three of his decisions in his five starts this month.

After Yoshinori Tateyama and Arthur Rhodes retired the only batters they faced, Neftali Feliz rebounded from his two earlier flops in the series with a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 26 chances.

Michael Young and Chris Davis had RBI singles early that put Texas ahead to stay. The Rangers earned a split in the four-game series and maintained their two-game division lead over the Los Angeles Angels, who won earlier Thursday at Cleveland.

Pirates 5, Braves 2

ATLANTA — Andrew McCutchen had three hits, including a double in the fifth inning that gave Pittsburgh the lead and a two-run homer in the ninth, and the Pirates beat the Atlanta Braves for a split of the four-game series.

McCutchen had been 1 for 11 in the series, which included wins by the Braves in 19 and 10 innings, before meeting with manager Clint Hurdle before Thursday’s game. Hurdle said he asked McCutchen to compare video of his swing from recent games and when he was having more success.

The quick study must have helped. McCutchen had a first-inning single before snapping a 1-all tie with his fifth-inning double off Derek Lowe (6-9).

McCutchen added his 15th homer, a two-run shot off George Sherrill, in the ninth.

Astros 5, Cardinals 3

ST. LOUIS — Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven innings and retired the last 13 batters he faced and Jason Bourgeois hit a tiebreaking double in the fifth inning to lead the Houston Astros to a win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Rodriguez (7-7) allowed just one earned run and five hits. He walked Matt Holliday with one out in the fourth before settling into a groove. He got David Freese to hit into a double play to end the fourth, then pitched four perfect innings before Sergio Escalona and Mark Melancon finished up. Melancon got his tenth save in 13 opportunities.

Jaime Garcia (10-5), who entered the game with an NL-best home record of 6-1, gave up four earned runs in six innings.

Carlos Lee hit his tenth homer of the season and third in the last seven games for the Astros.

CBSSports.com wire reports
July 28, 2011

SAN DIEGO — With relievers Mike Adams and Heath Bell in their usual roles, the San Diego Padres’ win had a familiar feel to it.

But for how much longer?

Bell led another solid bullpen effort, Jesus Guzman had two RBI and rookie Luis Martinez drove in the go-ahead run, lifting San Diego to a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Bell got his 30th save, the third straight year he has reached that mark, and Adams pitched a scoreless eighth inning as the Padres avoided a three-game sweep.

Last-place San Diego has made both Bell and Adams available with the non-waiver trade deadline approaching on Sunday.

While Bell initially said he wasn’t thinking that it might be the last time he pitched as a Padre, he later acknowledged: “It’s one of those things that I thought this might be the last game. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Am I going to Texas? Am I going to Anaheim? Where am I going? Just let me know.”

Padres manager Bud Black said he tries not to think about any of the trade talk.

“If I had that thought, I change it in a hurry,” Black said. “But I haven’t. Just trying to get through that game and knowing that’s how we win games, with a solid bullpen in close games.”

Luke Gregerson (3-3), the first of four Padres relievers, retired the only two batters he faced in the sixth to escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam.

“The momentum is heavy on their side,” Black said. “Threw some good sliders to [Cody] Ransom, threw some good sliders to (Ryan) Roberts. Those were critical, the key to the game, no doubt.”

Gregerson, Josh Spence, Adams and Bell combined to allow just two hits over the final 3 2/3 innings.

“Luke came in and needed to make big pitches, make guys swing and miss and he accomplished that,” Bell said.

Martinez and Orlando Hudson each had an RBI single in the sixth inning as the Padres erased a 3-2 deficit. Daniel Hudson (10-7) contributed to Arizona’s troubles with two walks and a hit batter in the inning.

The Padres scored twice in the sixth with two outs after Guzman drew a walk and stole second without a throw when Hudson failed to look over at him on first base. Guzman scored when Orlando Hudson singled to center. After Daniel Hudson hit Kyle Blanks with a pitch, Martinez singled in the go-ahead run.

“Stupid two-out walk,” Daniel Hudson said. “You can’t do that. I do it all the time. I get two quick outs and, for some reason, I can’t find the zone. I tried to be too perfect with that guy.”

Daniel Hudson allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out six and walked two. He came in 3-0 with a 0.83 ERA against the Padres in three career starts.

“It’s probably the most frustrating game I’ve had all year,” Hudson said. “If you told me I would have given up four runs before the game, I would have laughed in your face.”

Brandon Allen tied his season high with three RBI for Arizona, including a two-run homer. He also walked with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Justin Upton, who hit three homers in the first two games of the series, extended his hitting streak to nine games with a fourth-inning double for Arizona.

The Diamondbacks jumped in front on Allen’s two-run homer in the second inning, Arizona’s fifth of the series in spacious Petco Park. The Diamondbacks lead the NL with 119 home runs.

Guzman, who also walked twice, hit a solo homer, his fourth, in the second. He also drove in a run in the fourth when he hit a grounder in the hole on the left side of the infield that Ransom couldn’t smother as he dove for the ball. As the ball rolled into short left field, Cameron Maybin scored from second base.

Notes

• Arizona INF Willie Bloomquist, who has taken over at shortstop since Stephen Drew sustained a season-ending broken right ankle last week, was not in the starting lineup despite a seven-game hitting streak. He grounded out leading off the ninth as a pinch-hitter.
• Black said the team is concerned with the slow progress of LHP Clayton Richard [strained left shoulder]. “There’s no doubt the medical staff is concerned because he is not recovering as quickly as they hoped,” Black said. Richard has been on the disabled list since July 5.
• San Diego won for the second time in six games.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — With relievers Mike Adams and Heath Bell in their usual roles, the San Diego Padres‘ win had a familiar feel to it.

But for how much longer?

Bell led another solid bullpen effort, Jesus Guzman had two RBIs and rookie Luis Martinez drove in the go-ahead run, lifting San Diego to a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Bell got his 30th save, the third straight year he has reached that mark, and Adams pitched a scoreless eighth inning as the Padres avoided a three-game sweep.

Last-place San Diego has made both Bell and Adams available with the non-waiver trade deadline approaching on Sunday.

While Bell initially said he wasn’t thinking that it might be the last time he pitched as a Padre, he later acknowledged: “It’s one of those things that I thought this might be the last game. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Am I going to Texas? Am I going to Anaheim? Where am I going? Just let me know.”

Padres manager Bud Black said he tries not to think about any of the trade talk.

“If I had that thought, I change it in a hurry,” Black said. “But I haven’t. Just trying to get through that game and knowing that’s how we win games, with a solid bullpen in close games.”

Luke Gregerson (3-3), the first of four Padres relievers, retired the only two batters he faced in the sixth to escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam.

“The momentum is heavy on their side,” Black said. “Threw some good sliders to (Cody) Ransom, threw some good sliders to (Ryan) Roberts. Those were critical, the key to the game, no doubt.”

Gregerson, Josh Spence, Adams and Bell combined to allow just two hits over the final 3 2-3 innings.

“Luke came in and needed to make big pitches, make guys swing and miss and he accomplished that,” Bell said.

Martinez and Orlando Hudson each had an RBI single in the sixth inning as the Padres erased a 3-2 deficit. Daniel Hudson (10-7) contributed to Arizona’s troubles with two walks and a hit batter in the inning.

The Padres scored twice in the sixth with two outs after Guzman drew a walk and stole second without a throw when Hudson failed to look over at him on first base. Guzman scored when Orlando Hudson singled to center. After Daniel Hudson hit Kyle Blanks with a pitch, Martinez singled in the go-ahead run.

“Stupid two-out walk,” Daniel Hudson said. “You can’t do that. I do it all the time. I get two quick outs and, for some reason, I can’t find the zone. I tried to be too perfect with that guy.”

Daniel Hudson allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out six and walked two. He came in 3-0 with a 0.83 ERA against the Padres in three career starts.

“It’s probably the most frustrating game I’ve had all year,” Hudson said. “If you told me I would have given up four runs before the game, I would have laughed in your face.”

Brandon Allen tied his season high with three RBIs for Arizona, including a two-run homer. He also walked with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Justin Upton, who hit three homers in the first two games of the series, extended his hitting streak to nine games with a fourth-inning double for Arizona.

The Diamondbacks jumped in front on Allen’s two-run homer in the second inning, Arizona’s fifth of the series in spacious Petco Park. The Diamondbacks lead the NL with 119 home runs.

Guzman, who also walked twice, hit a solo homer, his fourth, in the second. He also drove in a run in the fourth when he hit a grounder in the hole on the left side of the infield that Ransom couldn’t smother as he dove for the ball. As the ball rolled into short left field, Cameron Maybin scored from second base.

NOTES: Arizona INF Willie Bloomquist, who has taken over at shortstop since Stephen Drew sustained a season-ending broken right ankle last week, was not in the starting lineup despite a seven-game hitting streak. He grounded out leading off the ninth as a pinch-hitter. … Black said the team is concerned with the slow progress of LHP Clayton Richard (strained left shoulder). “There’s no doubt the medical staff is concerned because he is not recovering as quickly as they hoped,” Black said. Richard has been on the disabled list since July 5. … San Diego won for the second time in six games.

SAN DIEGO, July 28 (UPI) — Luis Martinez snapped a tied score with an RBI single in the sixth inning Thursday, giving the San Diego Padres a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Arizona had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth on a bases-loaded walk by Brandon Allen, but San Diego answered with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning.

Jesus Guzman walked with two outs and, after Guzman stole second, pinch-hitter Orlando Hudson singled to center, driving in Guzman and tying the score.

Hudson was pushed to second when Kyle Blanks was hit by a pitch and came around when Martinez singled to left.

The rally was charged to Daniel Hudson (10-7), who allowed seven hits in addition to the four runs over six innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Luke Gregerson (3-3) got the win with an appearance of two-thirds of an inning. Heath Bell earned his 30th save with a one-hit ninth inning.

Allen hit a two-run home run — his third this year — in the Arizona second and San Diego got a solo home run from Guzman — his fourth of the season — in the bottom of the inning. The Padres tied the score in the fourth on an RBI single by Guzman.

SAN DIEGO – Joe Saunders came within one out of a shutout and Justin Upton and Kelly Johnson each drove in two runs to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres Monday night.

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Photos from the game | Box score

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Saunders (7-8) overcame his season-long, first-inning struggles and had two outs in the ninth when he surrendered a solo homer to Jesus Guzman. The right-hander, who allowed six hits, struck out four and walked two, came in having surrendered 16 earned runs in the first inning of his 20 starts this season for an ERA of 7.20.

The Diamondbacks also took advantage of Orlando Hudson’s mental blunder to score an unearned run in the sixth.

Dustin Moseley (3-10) took the loss.

SAN DIEGO — Joe Saunders came within one out of a shutout and Justin Upton and Kelly Johnson each drove in two runs to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.

Saunders (7-8) overcame his season-long, first-inning struggles and had two outs in the ninth when he surrendered a solo homer to Jesus Guzman. The right-hander, who allowed six hits, struck out four and walked two, came in having surrendered 16 earned runs in the first inning of his 20 starts this season for an ERA of 7.20.

Upton, the Co-NL Player of the Week along with San Diego’s Cameron Maybin, hit a solo homer and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. In his last seven games, Upton is 15 for 26 with three homers and 13 RBIs.

Johnson had three hits, including an RBI triple, and Willie Bloomquist also had three hits with two runs scored.

Orlando Hudson’s mental mistake allowed Arizona to score an unearned run in the sixth after Upton’s 18th home run with one out off Dustin Moseley (3-10). Chris Young followed with a walk and stole second base. After Miguel Montero was walked intentionally, Brian Roberts lifted a pop up to short right field.

Hudson easily went back and made the catch while running toward the first base line. He apparently forgot the number of outs because he tossed the ball underhand to the ball girl in foul territory. The girl tossed the ball into the stands.

Young and Montero each moved up a base on the play and were awarded an extra base with the ball went out of play, allowing Young to score.

San Diego, which leads the majors with 110 stolen bases, failed to steal a base for the first time in 13 games.

Moseley allowed five runs and seven hits over seven innings.

The Padres, who returned homer after playing 26 of their previous 36 games on the road.

While batting in the third inning, Moseley lined a ball down the right-field line, then crumpled at the plate while holding his left shoulder. He got up in time to run safely to first base, but trainer Todd Hutcheson came out onto the field. Moseley stayed in the game.

It appeared to be a reoccurrence of an injury from June 8 when he suffered a slight left shoulder dislocation while batting.

Notes: Rob Johnson left the game in the top of the seventh inning with a bruised right hand. … Diamondbacks LF Gerardo Parra (sore left wrist) was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight game after being hit by a pitch on Saturday. … OF Collin Cowgill, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Reno, made his major-league debut in left field.

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