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.

“Anytime you can come out of here with a win you consider it to be a good day,” San Diego starter Wade LeBlanc.

San Diego had lost seven of eight games in Arizona this season, including the first three games of the series.

“We’ve got to stay positive,” said Heath Bell, who pitched the ninth for his 37th save in 42 chances one day after allowing two homers in the ninth. “We could have taken three out of four. I messed up yesterday and the second game we kinda blew it.”

LeBlanc (3-5) went 5 2-3 innings and allowed four runs and four hits while snapping a personal three-game losing streak.

“I thought he deserved to get the win,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He had good efficiency, mix of pitches and changing of speeds, which all go into Wade’s game.”

Henry Blanco homered and Chris Young added a two-run double for the NL West-leading Diamondbacks. Arizona’s lead over the San Francisco Giants slipped to 8 1-2 games and its magic number remained eight.

“You’d like to win them all but we didn’t today,” manager Kirk Gibson said. “We push through. There’s a saying about playing 27 outs, playing to the end. It’s something that’s been preached for a while. It’s part of their character.”

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 a 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.

“We got it the hard way,” Black said. “It looked as though we might have done it the easy way but it turned out to be the hard way.”

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.

“It’s been our team all year,” Collmenter said. “Up, down, we play all the way through. It’s fun to be a part of a team like that and know that no matter how far down you are, they’re going to battle and give you a chance to win.”

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

“I think I forced through some things,” Collmenter said. “I didn’t make some big pitches when I needed to. I left some balls up over the plate today and they were able to put the bat on.”

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. . Young stole second in the second inning to reach the 20-homer, 20-stolen base plateau for the third time in his career. . 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.

PHOENIX — The San Diego Padres have struggled all year long, especially in Arizona. So this one was particularly sweet.

Nick Hundley homered and the Padres held on for a 7-6 victory Sunday that snapped the 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.

“Any time you can come out of here with a win you consider it to be a good day,” San Diego starter Wade LeBlanc.

San Diego had lost seven of eight games in Arizona this season, including the first three games of the series.

“We’ve got to stay positive,” said Heath Bell, who pitched the ninth for his 37th save in 42 chances one day after allowing two homers in the ninth. “We could have taken three out of four. I messed up yesterday and the second game we kinda blew it.”

LeBlanc (3-5) went 5 2-3 innings and allowed four runs and four hits while snapping a personal three-game losing streak.

“I thought he deserved to get the win,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He had good efficiency, mix of pitches and changing of speeds, which all go into Wade’s game.”

Henry Blanco homered and Chris Young added a two-run double for the NL West-leading Diamondbacks. Arizona’s lead over the San Francisco Giants slipped to 8 1-2 games and its magic number remained eight.

“You’d like to win them all but we didn’t today,” manager Kirk Gibson said. “We push through. There’s a saying about playing 27 outs, playing to the end. It’s something that’s been preached for a while. It’s part of their character.”

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 a 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 centre, 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 centre that trimmed San Diego’s lead to 7-5.

“We got it the hard way,” Black said. “It looked as though we might have done it the easy way but it turned out to be the hard way.”

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.

“It’s been our team all year,” Collmenter said. “Up, down, we play all the way through. It’s fun to be a part of a team like that and know that no matter how far down you are, they’re going to battle and give you a chance to win.”

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

“I think I forced through some things,” Collmenter said. “I didn’t make some big pitches when I needed to. I left some balls up over the plate today and they were able to put the bat on.”

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. . Young stole second in the second inning to reach the 20-homer, 20-stolen base plateau for the third time in his career. . The Padres dropped their formal protest of the Diamondbacks’ 6-5, extra-inning victory on Saturday.

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.

The Giants, who have 19 games left, trail NL West-leading Arizona by seven games after the Diamondbacks beat the Rockies 5-3 on Wednesday night. San Francisco has dropped three of four and six of 10.

“We have to win,” Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain said. “That’s all we have to do, is win.”

San Francisco was going for a sweep of the three-game series against a club it had beaten six of the previous seven games at Petco Park.

But Cain, who is 8-19 lifetime against the Padres, had little to show for allowing two runs and four hits in seven innings. After he allowed Will Venable’s leadoff homer in the first, he settled down and retired 11 consecutive batters before he issued two walks. Cain didn’t allow another hit until Maybin’s two-out double in the sixth.

“He did a great job,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He gave up the leadoff homer and then he dealt. He keeps grinding out there for us.”

Cain (11-10) struck out seven and walked three as he made his 200th career start.

San Francisco rookie Brett Pill homered for a second straight game after he hit a home run Tuesday night in his first major league at-bat.

“It’s kind of frustrating when we can’t really do anything for Matt,” Pill said.

Venable scored twice, while Maybin doubled and tripled in a run in the ninth.

The Padres got clutch defensive plays by Venable and Maybin.

The first was by Maybin, who made a long running catch while crashing into the wall in left-center field to rob Justin Christian leading off the game. Maybin hit his forehead on the padded wall and was on the ground for about a minute before he got up and stayed in the game.

“I kind of face-planted dead square,” Maybin said. “Luckily, I was able to make a play and keep the early momentum because those guys take advantage.”

Venable threw out Pill at home in the seventh when the rookie tried to score on a medium fly ball to right by pinch-hitter Pat Burrell.

“It’s one of those things that you have to go for it,” Bochy said. “It took a perfect throw. Those are the things you look back on and they hurt.”

Said Harang: “The guys made some good plays from the first hitter of the game that kind of set the tone. It showed the intensity and excitement level that was going to happen.”

San Diego, last in the NL West at 62-81, won for the second time in 13 games overall.

“That’s the kind of intensity we have to bring day in and day out, no matter where we are in the standings,” Maybin said.

Harang (13-5) broke a two-start losing streak by allowing one run and four hits in seven innings. Harang, who struck out three and walked three, is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts this season against the Giants, all at Petco Park.

Heath Bell got the final four outs for his 36th save in 40 chances. Bell replaced Chad Qualls in the eighth and threw one pitch to retire Carlos Beltran on a line drive to right with a runner on first and two outs.

Venable led off the Padres’ first with his seventh homer to right. It also extended his season club record for leadoff homers to five.

The home run was the third allowed by Cain in his last 20 starts. Overall, Cain has given up only eight homers.

“Everything was feeling all right,” he said. “I was trying to get ahead of guys and get early strikes.”

Pill tied the game with a homer leading off the fifth. Pill joined John Bowker as the only two players in franchise history to homer in their first two major league games.

Pill homered off Wade LeBlanc on Tuesday night in his first major league at-bat, a two-run shot in the second inning of the Giants’ 6-4 win.

The Padres took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Jesus Guzman singled in Maybin, who reached on a two-out double.

Notes: Cain has pitched 203 innings this season, the fifth straight season he has reached the 200-inning mark. … Bowker homered in his major league debut on April 12, 2008, and again the next day. … Padres manager Bud Black said after the game that INF Logan Forsythe would undergo surgery on his left knee on Thursday. Forsythe has not played since Friday with an inflamed patellar tendon in his right knee. But Black said Forsythe’s left knee, surgically repaired in the offseason, starting bothering him midway through this season. … After a day off, Giants RHP Tim Lincecum (12-12, 2.75 ERA) will attempt to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time this season in four starts (0-2, 1.86) on Friday to open a six-game homestand. LHP Clayton Kershaw (17-5, 2.45) pitches for the Dodgers. … LHP Cory Luebke (5-8, 3.29) will start for the Padres on Thursday at Arizona, facing NL wins leader RHP Ian Kennedy (18-4, 2.96).

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

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Last season, the San Diego Padres were battling for the NL West title before losing out on the last day of the regular season to the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

One year later, the last-place Padres have to be content with spoiling the Giants’ fading playoff hopes.

Aaron Harang threw seven strong innings and Cameron Maybin had two hits and an RBI as San Diego avoided a three-game sweep with a 3-1 victory Wednesday night.

The Giants, who have 19 games left, came into the game trailing NL West-leading Arizona by six games. San Diego (62-81) came in trailing the Diamondbacks by 20 games.

“That’s the kind of intensity we have to bring day in and day out, no matter where we are in the standings,” Maybin said. “We can make it tough on guys who come in here or if we are on the road, just not lay down.”

The intensity certainly showed on Maybin’s sensational face-first catch against the fence in left-center field on the first batter of the game.

“The guys made some good plays from the first hitter of the game that kind of set the tone,” Harang said. “It showed the intensity and excitement level that was going to happen.”

San Francisco rookie Brett Pill homered for a second straight game after he hit a home run Tuesday night in his first major league at-bat.

Will Venable had a solo homer and scored twice, while Maybin doubled and tripled in a run in the ninth.

The Padres got a second clutch defensive play from Venable.

Maybin made a long running catch while crashing into the wall to rob Justin Christian leading off the game. Maybin hit his forehead on the padded wall and was on the ground for about a minute before he got up and stayed in the game.

Venable threw out Pill at home in the seventh when the rookie tried to score on a medium fly ball to right by pinch-hitter Pat Burrell.

San Diego won for the second time in 13 games overall. The Padres had lost six of their previous seven home games against San Francisco.

Harang (13-5) broke a two-start losing streak by allowing one run and four hits in seven innings. Harang, who struck out three and walked three, is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts this season against the Giants, all at Petco Park.

“He’s pitching to the score so often,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “You could tell this was going to be a low scoring game and Aaron sensed it and pitched to it.”

Heath Bell got the final four outs for his 36th save in 40 chances. Bell replaced Chad Qualls in the eighth and threw one pitch to retire Carlos Beltran on a line drive to right with a runner on first and two outs.

Matt Cain (11-10) gave up two runs and four hits over seven innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked three.

Cain, making his 200th career start, dropped to 8-19 lifetime against San Diego.

Venable led off the Padres’ first with his seventh homer to right. It also extended his season club record for leadoff homers to five.

The home run was the third allowed by Cain in his last 20 starts. Overall, Cain has given up only eight homers.

Pill tied the game with a homer leading off the fifth. Pill joined John Bowker as the only two players in franchise history to homer in their first two major league games.

Pill homered off Wade LeBlanc on Tuesday night in his first major league at-bat, a two-run shot in the second inning of the Giants’ 6-4 win.

The Padres took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Jesus Guzman singled in Maybin, who reached on a two-out double.

Notes: Cain has pitched 203 innings this season, the fifth straight season he has reached the 200-inning mark. … Bowker homered in his major league debut on April 12, 2008, and again the next day. … Black said after the game that INF Logan Forsythe would undergo surgery on his left knee on Thursday. Forsythe has not played since Friday with an inflamed patellar tendon in his right knee. But Black said Forsythe’s left knee, surgically repaired in the offseason, starting bothering him midway through this season. … After a day off, Giants RHP Tim Lincecum (12-12, 2.75 ERA) will attempt to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time this season in four starts (0-2, 1.86) on Friday to open a six-game homestand. LHP Clayton Kershaw (17-5, 2.45) pitches for the Dodgers. … LHP Cory Luebke (5-8, 3.29) will start for the Padres on Thursday at Arizona, facing NL wins leader RHP Ian Kennedy (18-4, 2.96).

SAN DIEGO (AP)—The San Francisco Giants know time is running short on
defending their World Series title.

Aaron Harang(notes) threw seven strong innings and Cameron Maybin(notes) had two hits and
an RBI as the San Diego Padres dealt a big blow to the Giants’ fading playoff
hopes with a 3-1 victory Wednesday night.

The Giants, who have 19 games left, came into the game trailing NL
West-leading Arizona by six games. San Francisco has dropped three of four and
six of 10.

“We have to win,” Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain(notes) said. “That’s all we
have to do, is win.”

San Francisco was going for a sweep of the three-game series against a club
it had beaten six of the previous seven games at Petco Park.

But Cain, who is 8-19 lifetime against the Padres, had little to show for
allowing two runs and four hits in seven innings. After he allowed Will
Venable’s(notes) leadoff homer in the first, he settled down and retired 11 consecutive
batters before he issued two walks. Cain didn’t allow another hit until Maybin’s
two-out double in the sixth.

“He did a great job,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He gave up the
leadoff homer and then he dealt. He keeps grinding out there for us.”

Cain (11-10) struck out seven and walked three as he made his 200th career
start.

San Francisco rookie Brett Pill(notes) homered for a second straight game after he
hit a home run Tuesday night in his first major league at-bat.

“It’s kind of frustrating when we can’t really do anything for Matt,” Pill
said.

Venable scored twice, while Maybin doubled and tripled in a run in the
ninth.

The Padres got clutch defensive plays by Venable and Maybin.

The first was by Maybin, who made a long running catch while crashing into
the wall in left-center field to rob Justin Christian(notes) leading off the game.
Maybin hit his forehead on the padded wall and was on the ground for about a
minute before he got up and stayed in the game.

“I kind of face-planted dead square,” Maybin said. “Luckily, I was able
to make a play and keep the early momentum because those guys take advantage.”

Venable threw out Pill at home in the seventh when the rookie tried to score
on a medium fly ball to right by pinch-hitter Pat Burrell(notes).

“It’s one of those things that you have to go for it,” Bochy said. “It
took a perfect throw. Those are the things you look back on and they hurt.”

Said Harang: “The guys made some good plays from the first hitter of the
game that kind of set the tone. It showed the intensity and excitement level
that was going to happen.”

San Diego, last in the NL West at 62-81, won for the second time in 13 games
overall.

“That’s the kind of intensity we have to bring day in and day out, no
matter where we are in the standings,” Maybin said.

Harang (13-5) broke a two-start losing streak by allowing one run and four
hits in seven innings. Harang, who struck out three and walked three, is 2-0
with a 0.90 ERA in three starts this season against the Giants, all at Petco
Park.

Heath Bell(notes) got the final four outs for his 36th save in 40 chances. Bell
replaced Chad Qualls(notes) in the eighth and threw one pitch to retire Carlos Beltran(notes)
on a line drive to right with a runner on first and two outs.

Venable led off the Padres’ first with his seventh homer to right. It also
extended his season club record for leadoff homers to five.

The home run was the third allowed by Cain in his last 20 starts. Overall,
Cain has given up only eight homers.

“Everything was feeling all right,” he said. “I was trying to get ahead
of guys and get early strikes.”

Pill tied the game with a homer leading off the fifth. Pill joined John
Bowker(notes) as the only two players in franchise history to homer in their first two
major league games.

Pill homered off Wade LeBlanc(notes) on Tuesday night in his first major league
at-bat, a two-run shot in the second inning of the Giants’ 6-4 win.

The Padres took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Jesus Guzman(notes) singled in Maybin,
who reached on a two-out double.

Notes: Cain has pitched 203 innings this season, the fifth straight season
he has reached the 200-inning mark. … Bowker homered in his major league debut
on April 12, 2008, and again the next day. … Padres manager Bud Black said
after the game that INF Logan Forsythe(notes) would undergo surgery on his left knee on
Thursday. Forsythe has not played since Friday with an inflamed patellar tendon
in his right knee. But Black said Forsythe’s left knee, surgically repaired in
the offseason, starting bothering him midway through this season. … After a
day off, Giants RHP Tim Lincecum(notes) (12-12, 2.75 ERA) will attempt to beat the Los
Angeles Dodgers for the first time this season in four starts (0-2, 1.86) on
Friday to open a six-game homestand. LHP Clayton Kershaw(notes) (17-5, 2.45) pitches
for the Dodgers. … LHP Cory Luebke(notes) (5-8, 3.29) will start for the Padres on
Thursday at Arizona, facing NL wins leader RHP Ian Kennedy(notes) (18-4, 2.96).

SAN DIEGO (AP)—The San Francisco Giants know time is running short on
defending their World Series title.

Aaron Harang(notes) threw seven strong innings and Cameron Maybin(notes) had two hits and
an RBI as the San Diego Padres dealt a big blow to the Giants’ fading playoff
hopes with a 3-1 victory Wednesday night.

The Giants, who have 19 games left, came into the game trailing NL
West-leading Arizona by six games. San Francisco has dropped three of four and
six of 10.

“We have to win,” Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain(notes) said. “That’s all we
have to do, is win.”

San Francisco was going for a sweep of the three-game series against a club
it had beaten six of the previous seven games at Petco Park.

But Cain, who is 8-19 lifetime against the Padres, had little to show for
allowing two runs and four hits in seven innings. After he allowed Will
Venable’s(notes) leadoff homer in the first, he settled down and retired 11 consecutive
batters before he issued two walks. Cain didn’t allow another hit until Maybin’s
two-out double in the sixth.

“He did a great job,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He gave up the
leadoff homer and then he dealt. He keeps grinding out there for us.”

Cain (11-10) struck out seven and walked three as he made his 200th career
start.

San Francisco rookie Brett Pill(notes) homered for a second straight game after he
hit a home run Tuesday night in his first major league at-bat.

“It’s kind of frustrating when we can’t really do anything for Matt,” Pill
said.

Venable scored twice, while Maybin doubled and tripled in a run in the
ninth.

The Padres got clutch defensive plays by Venable and Maybin.

The first was by Maybin, who made a long running catch while crashing into
the wall in left-center field to rob Justin Christian(notes) leading off the game.
Maybin hit his forehead on the padded wall and was on the ground for about a
minute before he got up and stayed in the game.

“I kind of face-planted dead square,” Maybin said. “Luckily, I was able
to make a play and keep the early momentum because those guys take advantage.”

Venable threw out Pill at home in the seventh when the rookie tried to score
on a medium fly ball to right by pinch-hitter Pat Burrell(notes).

“It’s one of those things that you have to go for it,” Bochy said. “It
took a perfect throw. Those are the things you look back on and they hurt.”

Said Harang: “The guys made some good plays from the first hitter of the
game that kind of set the tone. It showed the intensity and excitement level
that was going to happen.”

San Diego, last in the NL West at 62-81, won for the second time in 13 games
overall.

“That’s the kind of intensity we have to bring day in and day out, no
matter where we are in the standings,” Maybin said.

Harang (13-5) broke a two-start losing streak by allowing one run and four
hits in seven innings. Harang, who struck out three and walked three, is 2-0
with a 0.90 ERA in three starts this season against the Giants, all at Petco
Park.

Heath Bell(notes) got the final four outs for his 36th save in 40 chances. Bell
replaced Chad Qualls(notes) in the eighth and threw one pitch to retire Carlos Beltran(notes)
on a line drive to right with a runner on first and two outs.

Venable led off the Padres’ first with his seventh homer to right. It also
extended his season club record for leadoff homers to five.

The home run was the third allowed by Cain in his last 20 starts. Overall,
Cain has given up only eight homers.

“Everything was feeling all right,” he said. “I was trying to get ahead
of guys and get early strikes.”

Pill tied the game with a homer leading off the fifth. Pill joined John
Bowker(notes) as the only two players in franchise history to homer in their first two
major league games.

Pill homered off Wade LeBlanc(notes) on Tuesday night in his first major league
at-bat, a two-run shot in the second inning of the Giants’ 6-4 win.

The Padres took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Jesus Guzman(notes) singled in Maybin,
who reached on a two-out double.

Notes: Cain has pitched 203 innings this season, the fifth straight season
he has reached the 200-inning mark. … Bowker homered in his major league debut
on April 12, 2008, and again the next day. … Padres manager Bud Black said
after the game that INF Logan Forsythe(notes) would undergo surgery on his left knee on
Thursday. Forsythe has not played since Friday with an inflamed patellar tendon
in his right knee. But Black said Forsythe’s left knee, surgically repaired in
the offseason, starting bothering him midway through this season. … After a
day off, Giants RHP Tim Lincecum(notes) (12-12, 2.75 ERA) will attempt to beat the Los
Angeles Dodgers for the first time this season in four starts (0-2, 1.86) on
Friday to open a six-game homestand. LHP Clayton Kershaw(notes) (17-5, 2.45) pitches
for the Dodgers. … LHP Cory Luebke(notes) (5-8, 3.29) will start for the Padres on
Thursday at Arizona, facing NL wins leader RHP Ian Kennedy(notes) (18-4, 2.96).

SAN DIEGO (AP)—San Diego Padres rookie infielder Logan Forsythe(notes) will
undergo left knee surgery on Thursday, the team announced.

Padres manager Bud Black had said before the game that it was “improbable”
that Forsythe would play again this season because his left knee, surgically
repaired in the offseason, had continued to bother him.

Forsythe has not played since Friday with an inflamed patellar tendon in his
right knee, but Black said he was getting closer to recovering from the injury
and playing again.

He hit .213 with no home runs and 12 RBIs in 150 at-bats in three different
stints with San Diego after being recalled each time from Triple-A Tucson,
including on May 4 when he made his major-league debut.

The defending World Series champion Giants pulled within six games of NL West-leading Arizona with 20 to go. The Diamondbacks lost 8-3 at Colorado.

“I felt OK,” said LeBlanc, who dropped to 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA in five career starts against the Giants. “It was a disappointing game. We scored what should have been enough runs to win the game.

“I gave up runs and two times they answered for me, and then I gave it right back,” he added. “That’s the frustrating thing. I’ve got to figure out what makes me successful as a pitcher and get back to that.”

With the Giants leading 6-3, Javier Lopez walked Orlando Hudson on four pitches to open the Padres ninth. Santiago Casilla came on and got two outs before allowing rookie Anthony Rizzo’s RBI double off the right-field wall. Casilla hit Cameron Maybin on the right elbow and hit Jason Bartlett on the left hand to load the bases.

Manager Bruce Bochy then turned to Ramon Ramirez, the sixth Giants’ reliever, who struck out Jesus Guzman for his fourth save in five chances.

Surkamp (1-0) allowed three runs and five hits in five innings.

Carlos Beltran had three hits and three RBIs for the Giants, who won with three prospects in their starting lineup.

Pill’s contract was purchased last Wednesday from Triple-A Fresno. Surkamp, called up from Double-A Richmond on Aug. 27, made his second big league start. Justin Christian started in center field and batted leadoff after his contract was purchased from Fresno on Tuesday. Christian appeared in 24 games with the New York Yankees in 2008.

With Mark DeRosa aboard on a leadoff single in the second, Pill hit an 0-1 pitch off the balcony of the third level of the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner at Petco Park and back onto the field. Padres left fielder Kyle Blanks tossed it into the stands, where a man grabbed it. Padres event operations supervisor Rob Arnold negotiated with the fan to get the ball for Pill.

Pill, who led the Pacific Coast League with 167 hits, started at first base.

Beltran, back after missing Monday’s game with food poisoning, hit an RBI single in the third, an RBI double in the fifth and brought in another run with a grounder in the ninth.

San Diego’s Nick Hundley hit a solo homer off Surkamp leading off the second. Rookie Andy Parrino got his first big league RBI on a sacrifice fly later that inning, and Kyle Blanks hit a sacrifice fly in the third.

LeBlanc (2-5) allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings.

“He probably could have gone another inning or two, but losing 4-3, we needed to get a run or two there against their lefty,” manager Bud Black said. “And with a full bullpen is why we made the change.”

NOTES: Injured Giants LHP Barry Zito threw a four-inning simulated game. “We’ll see how he comes out of this and see if we need him for relief,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. … The Padres recalled RHP Erik Hamren from Triple-A Tucson, and RHP Pat Neshek was outrighted to Tucson. He was designated for assignment on Thursday when the club claimed RHP Jeff Fulchino. … Padres RF Chris Denorfia, who came off the DL on Monday, was hit in the head as he dove back into second base on a pickoff attempt in the second. He got up and took third before scoring on Parrino’s sac fly. Will Venable hit for Denorfia in the fifth and stayed in the game in RF. … The series concludes Wednesday afternoon when Giants RHP Matt Cain (11-9, 2.85 ERA) opposes Padres RHP Aaron Harang (12-5, 3.86). Cain is winless in three starts against San Diego this season, going 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA. Harang has gone 1-2 in his last three starts despite allowing only five earned runs.

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

The 25-year-old right-hander gave up two singles in 1 1-3 innings and struck out three of the seven batters he faced. He earlier had his contract selected from Triple-A Tucson.

“It was definitely one of those things I’ll never forget. I was trying not to concentrate on the batter and just throw my pitches,” Brach said. “It’s exciting looking back at it now. At the time, I was just worried about the next batter.”

He walked out of the bullpen feeling nervous in front of a sparse crowd at Dodger Stadium. When Brach reached the mound, second baseman Orlando Hudson came over with some encouraging words.

“He took all the pressure away and just made me concentrate on the hitter and forget about everything else that was going on around me,” he said.

Brach’s trip to the majors included stops in Peoria, Ariz., Fort Wayne, Ind., and Lake Elsinore, Calif., where he was the California League pitcher of the year in 2010.

“The journey was well worth it, that’s for sure,” he said.

Padres manager Bud Black was impressed with Brach’s stuff back in spring training.

“The fastball at times has a nice cut to it,” he said. “I’m sure it’s a nice feather in his cap to look back and know that the first guy that he struck out in the major leagues was Matt Kemp. That’s pretty nice.”

Kemp got his career-high 102nd RBI and Rod Barajas hit a two-run homer as the Dodgers completed a three-game series sweep. The Padres finished 1-7 on their eight-game trip.

Los Angeles starter Ted Lilly (9-13) allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings. He had a season-high four walks in his ninth career win over the Padres — his most against a single opponent.

Javy Guerra pitched the ninth to earn his 13th save in 14 chances.

Wade LeBlanc (2-4) gave up four runs and six hits in six innings for San Diego.

“I didn’t have a whole lot today, so when you get to that point, it’s just a matter of how close you can keep the game and give the guys a chance to win it,” he said. “Mechanically, I just felt really off. I felt like I was rushing.”

Kemp’s single to left in the first inning gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

LeBlanc tied it with a two-out RBI single in the second that was preceded by consecutive walks by Lilly.

The Padres’ other run came on Alberto Gonzalez’s RBI double in the sixth.

The Dodgers took the lead for good when Barajas hit a 3-1 pitch off the left-field foul pole in the bottom of the second. Barajas’ 15th homer drove in James Loney, who reached on a leadoff walk.

NOTES: Dodgers RF Andre Ethier, who came in hitting .533 on the homestand, singled as a pinch hitter in the eighth. … The Dodgers earned their fourth series sweep of the season and their second over the Padres. … The Padres claimed OF Jeremy Hermida off outright waivers from Cincinnati and designated C Kyle Phillips for assignment. Hermida is set to join the team in San Diego on Friday. … The Padres optioned OF Blake Tekotte to Double-A San Antonio and transferred RHP Dustin Moseley from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. Moseley had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder Aug. 3. … The Dodgers placed RHP Matt Guerrier on paternity leave and recalled RHP Josh Lindblom from Double-A Chattanooga. Lindblom replaced Lilly and threw 16 pitches in the sixth inning.

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

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brad Brach couldn’t stop smiling, and that’s saying something when you’re playing for the last-place San Diego Padres, who have lost a season-high seven in a row.

Brach made his major league debut in the seventh inning of a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, with his personal highlight a strikeout of Matt Kemp.

The 25-year-old right-hander gave up two singles in 1 1-3 innings and struck out three of the seven batters he faced. He earlier had his contract selected from Triple-A Tucson.

“It was definitely one of those things I’ll never forget. I was trying not to concentrate on the batter and just throw my pitches,” Brach said. “It’s exciting looking back at it now. At the time, I was just worried about the next batter.”

He walked out of the bullpen feeling nervous in front of a sparse crowd at Dodger Stadium. When Brach reached the mound, second baseman Orlando Hudson came over with some encouraging words.

“He took all the pressure away and just made me concentrate on the hitter and forget about everything else that was going on around me,” he said.

Brach’s trip to the majors included stops in Peoria, Ariz., Fort Wayne, Ind., and Lake Elsinore, Calif., where he was the California League pitcher of the year in 2010.

“The journey was well worth it, that’s for sure,” he said.

Padres manager Bud Black was impressed with Brach’s stuff back in spring training.

“The fastball at times has a nice cut to it,” he said. “I’m sure it’s a nice feather in his cap to look back and know that the first guy that he struck out in the major leagues was Matt Kemp. That’s pretty nice.”

Kemp got his career-high 102nd RBI and Rod Barajas hit a two-run homer as the Dodgers completed a three-game series sweep. The Padres finished 1-7 on their eight-game trip.

Los Angeles starter Ted Lilly (9-13) allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings. He had a season-high four walks in his ninth career win over the Padres — his most against a single opponent.

Javy Guerra pitched the ninth to earn his 13th save in 14 chances.

Wade LeBlanc (2-4) gave up four runs and six hits in six innings for San Diego.

“I didn’t have a whole lot today, so when you get to that point, it’s just a matter of how close you can keep the game and give the guys a chance to win it,” he said. “Mechanically, I just felt really off. I felt like I was rushing.”

Kemp’s single to left in the first inning gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

LeBlanc tied it with a two-out RBI single in the second that was preceded by consecutive walks by Lilly.

The Padres’ other run came on Alberto Gonzalez’s RBI double in the sixth.

The Dodgers took the lead for good when Barajas hit a 3-1 pitch off the left-field foul pole in the bottom of the second. Barajas’ 15th homer drove in James Loney, who reached on a leadoff walk.

NOTES: Dodgers RF Andre Ethier, who came in hitting .533 on the homestand, singled as a pinch hitter in the eighth. … The Dodgers earned their fourth series sweep of the season and their second over the Padres. … The Padres claimed OF Jeremy Hermida off outright waivers from Cincinnati and designated C Kyle Phillips for assignment. Hermida is set to join the team in San Diego on Friday. … The Padres optioned OF Blake Tekotte to Double-A San Antonio and transferred RHP Dustin Moseley from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. Moseley had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder Aug. 3. … The Dodgers placed RHP Matt Guerrier on paternity leave and recalled RHP Josh Lindblom from Double-A Chattanooga. Lindblom replaced Lilly and threw 16 pitches in the sixth inning.

“I’d obviously like to get that home run back,” Stauffer said. “He hit a pretty good pitch. He went down and got it. The other run they manufactured but it was enough.”

Stauffer has career highs in starts (27), innings pitched (166) and strikeouts (114) in his first full season as a starter.

“I feel good now and I get all my work in,” he said. “I don’t look forward or behind, I just try to keep it simple.”

A former first-round draft pick, Stauffer has had to overcome injuries and moves to the bullpen and back into the starting rotation.

“It’s a tribute to his perseverance,” Padres’ manager Bud Black said. “He’s battled back from a lot of issues and his career got untracked for a while. Right now he’s solid as one of our guys at the top of the rotation.”

Beltran returned to the starting lineup and sent a changeup from Stauffer (8-10) over the wall in right field in the fourth for his 16th home run of the season. The solo shot was the first of his career at AT&T Park.

Tim Lincecum (12-10) struck out seven and walked five in eight innings, pitching out of the stretch again the entire game. He gave up three hits and also had the go-ahead RBI single.

“The dude is a two-time Cy Young Award winner,” Padres’ Orlando Hudson said. “He’s one of the elite pitchers in baseball. I can see him walk to the podium and grab a few more Cy Young’s. That’s the type of pitcher he is.”

Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.

After Cameron Maybin singled to start the sixth for the Padres, Beltran again found himself at the center of another big play. He dove for a ball near the right corner and missed, allowing Orlando Hudson to slide in for a triple and San Diego to slice the deficit to 2-1.

The Padres never could mount anything offensively.

The Giants avoided having to face closer Heath Bell, who they claimed off waivers. San Diego has 48 hours from the time Bell was claimed to decide whether to work out a trade with San Francisco, allow him to be claimed or pull him back from waivers.

NOTES: Home run king Barry Bonds was sitting with his son in box seats near the Giants dugout. … U.S. women’s soccer team members Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe were in attendance. Both were wearing Panda hats, which Giants fans often wear in support of 3B Pablo Sandoval. … The Padres optioned RHP Pat Neshek to Triple-A Tucson. … RHP Ryan Vogelsong (10-3, 2.47 ERA) starts for the Giants against Houston’s RHP Henry Sosa (0-2, 6.35 ERA) in the opener of a four-game series Thursday. … San Diego announced that IF James Darnell will be optioned to Triple-A Tucson, with a corresponding move to come before Friday’s series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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