Luebke took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, leading the San Diego Padres to an 8-2 victory against the slumping Rockies.

“He had a little bit extra on his fastball, a little bit more carry in the hitting area,” Colorado manager Jim Tracy said. “He did a pretty good job of wiggling out of several 3-0 counts and that didn’t help the situation just due to the fact that we weren’t able to get any runners on base.”

Cameron Maybin and Aaron Cunningham homered for San Diego, which has won three of four. Maybin, Cunningham and Jason Bartlett had two hits apiece.

Mark Ellis homered for Colorado’s only hit of the game. The Rockies have lost five straight and six of seven.

“We obviously don’t have some of our best players out there,” Ellis said. “The guys that are out there are playing hard. We’re not winning a lot of games.”

Luebke (6-9) struck out a career-high nine in seven innings, yielding two runs and one hit. The left-hander was 0-2 with a 5.48 ERA in nine career games against the Rockies before Monday night.

Tracy was quick to point out there were a different set of circumstances this time that left them vulnerable to Luebke.

“With what we have out there right now offensively, when you dig a seven-run hole, you can’t ask some of these young kids to do the things that are necessary when you get down that quickly,” Tracy said. “That is somewhat of an insurmountable task when you look around that field and see the number of young kids that we have out there.”

Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (left hip), first baseman Todd Helton (back) and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (right wrist) were out of the lineup.

The Padres have never thrown a no-hitter in their 43-year history, and 19 times they’ve held an opponent hitless into the eighth. The last time was July 9 when five pitchers held the Los Angeles Dodgers hitless through 8 2-3 innings before Juan Uribe broke it up with a double.

Luebke tried to become the first pitcher in franchise history to accomplish the feat. He retired 12 straight at one point through five innings. He got Chris Nelson to line out to open the sixth before walking Eric Young Jr.

Luebke momentarily preserved the no-hitter in the sixth when he slid to grab Dexter Fowler’s slow roller near the mound and threw out the speedy outfielder at first for the second out of the inning.

One batter later, Ellis belted a two-run drive to left-center that made it 8-2.

“Everybody knows he’s throwing a no-hitter,” Ellis said. “You don’t really think about it until you get to the seventh inning.”

Ernesto Frieri pitched two innings to finish the game.

The Padres jumped on Kevin Millwood (3-3) early. They grabbed the lead in the second on three straight singles and made it 3-0 in the fourth on RBI singles by Bartlett and Kyle Blanks.

San Diego broke it open in the fourth and chased Millwood. Jeremy Hermida led off with a walk and scored on Cunningham’s homer to left-center, his second.

One out later, Luebke singled to right and Maybin hit the first pitch he saw into the right-field bleachers for his ninth homer.

Jim Miller relieved Millwood and got the final two outs of the inning.

Millwood allowed seven runs, six earned, and nine hits.

“It was a bad night,” Millwood said. “I pitched bad.”

NOTES: Tulowitzki has missed six straight games and eight of the past 10. Helton has missed six consecutive games and 12 of the past 14. Gonzalez missed his fourth game in a row. … Padres INF Jesus Guzman (sore neck) was not in the lineup. … The Padres will send RHP Matt Latos to the mound against RHP Jhoulys Chacin in the second game of the series Tuesday.

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

Cory Luebke tossed seven brilliant innings to lead the San Diego Padres to an 8-2 thrashing of the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game set at Coors Field.

Luebke (6-9) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before having it broken up on a two-run home run by Mark Ellis. That turned out to be Colorado’s only hit. Luebke struck out nine and walked three. Ernesto Frieri pitched the final two innings.

Cameron Maybin and Aaron Cunningham clubbed two-run home runs in the fourth inning and Jason Bartlett added a pair of RBI for the Padres. Luebke also helped his own cause with two hits.

Kevin Millwood (3-3) was roughed up in 3 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs — six earned — on nine hits for the Rockies, losers of five straight.

Kyle Blanks and Orlando Hudson singled to begin the San Diego second and Jeremy Hermida followed with another single up the middle to bring home Blanks, giving the Padres the early lead.

They poured it on from there.

San Diego added two more runs in the third. Maybin reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and came around to score on a single by Bartlett. Nick Hundley then reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on a passed ball before Blanks knocked him in with a single to left.

A pair of two-run homers by Cunningham and Maybin in the fourth put the Padres ahead by a comfortable 7-0 margin.

Maybin cracked a triple into the gap in right-center field with one out in the sixth and waltzed home on a sacrifice fly by Bartlett to push the San Diego advantage to 8-0.

Colorado got on the board in the home half of the inning when Luebke walked Eric Young Jr. with one out then had his no-hit bid ended as Ellis crushed a 3-1 fastball over the wall in dead center field to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Hermida connected on his first triple of the season in the fifth…Colorado leads the season series, 9-7…It was only the fourth time in the history of Coors Field that the Rockies have been held to one hit or less.

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DENVER (AP) — Cory Luebke took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Cameron Maybin and Aaron Cunningham homered and the San Diego Padres beat the slumping Colorado Rockies 8-2 Monday night.

Mark Ellis homered for Colorado’s only hit of the game. The Rockies have lost five straight and six of seven.

Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (left hip), first baseman Todd Helton (back) and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (right wrist) were out of the lineup.

Maybin, Cunningham and Jason Bartlett had two hits each for San Diego, which has won three of four.

The Padres have never thrown a no-hitter in their 43-year history, and 19 times they’ve held an opponent hitless into the eighth. The last time was July 9 when five pitchers held the Los Angeles Dodgers hitless through 8 2-3 innings before Juan Uribe broke it up with a double.

Luebke (6-9) tried to become the first pitcher in franchise history to accomplish the feat. He walked three and retired 12 straight at one point through five innings. He got Chris Nelson to line out to open the sixth before walking Eric Young Jr.

Manager Jim Tracy removes starting pitcher Kevin Millwood #40 of the Colorado Rockies from the game in the fourth inning at Coors Field on Sept. 19, 2011 in Denver. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Luebke momentarily preserved the no-hitter in the sixth when he slid to grab Dexter Fowler’s slow roller near the mound and threw out the speedy outfielder at first for the second out of the inning.

One batter later, Ellis ended the no-hit bid with a two-run homer to left-center that made it 8-2.

Luebke was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth. He struck out a career-high nine.

Ernesto Frieri pitched two hitless innings to finish the game.

The Padres jumped on Kevin Millwood (3-3) early. They took a 1-0 lead in the second on three straight singles and made it 3-0 in the fourth on RBI singles by Bartlett and Kyle Blanks.

San Diego broke it open in the fourth and chased Millwood. Jeremy Hermida led off with a walk and scored on Cunningham’s homer to left-center, his second.

One out later, Luebke singled to right and Maybin hit the first pitch he saw into the right-field bleachers for his ninth homer to make it 7-0.

Jim Miller relieved Millwood and got the final two outs of the inning.

Millwood allowed seven runs — six earned — and nine hits. He struck out one.

NOTES: Tulowitzki has missed six straight games and eight of the past 10. Helton has missed six consecutive games and 12 of the past 14. Gonzalez missed his fourth game in a row. … Padres INF Jesus Guzman (sore neck) was not in the lineup. … The Padres will send RHP Matt Latos to the mound against Colorado RHP Jhoulys Chacin in the second game of the series Tuesday.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Pablo Sandoval homered twice, lefty Madison Bumgarner struck out a career-high 13 in 8 1-3 innings and the San Francisco Giants beat the last-place San Diego Padres 7-2 on Monday to remain seven games behind the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks with 21 to play.

The defending World Series champion Giants came into this three-game series with their biggest deficit of the season after losing two of three to the Diamondbacks in a weekend series. The Diamondbacks won 10-7 at Colorado on Monday.

Sandoval’s 17th and 18th homers, both off Tim Stauffer (8-12), were enough to carry the Giants to just their third win in eight games. With two outs in the first, he homered into the sand play area beyond the fence in right-center on a 2-0 pitch. He led off the fourth with a shot into the right field seats on a 2-1 pitch.

The Giants have hit seven homers in their last five games after going homerless in their previous six.

It was the third time Sandoval has had two homers in a game. The first two were in 2009.

Sandoval flied out to left in his third at-bat. In his fourth at-bat, with runners on first and third, first base opened on a wild pitch by Jeff Fulchino while Sandoval was batting, and he was intentionally walked. After a forceout at home, Cody Ross hit a two-run double. Brad Brach, the third Padres reliever that inning, walked pinch-hitter Mark DeRosa with the bases loaded to run San Francisco’s lead to 7-1. The Padres walked four that inning.

Sandoval struck out in the ninth inning.

Bumgarner (10-12) came within two outs of his first career complete game. He was pulled after Nick Hundley hit a solo homer with one out in the ninth, his sixth. Bumgarner held San Diego to two runs and seven hits, and walked one. It was the fourth time he struck out 10 or more, all coming this season.

Stauffer lost his third straight start. allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings, struck out one and walked one.

In his previous start, Stauffer lasted only 1 2-3 innings and had a career-high seven walks in an 8-5 loss at Dodger Stadium. Six of them were in the second inning alone, three with the bases loaded.

San Diego’s Jesus Guzman hit an RBI single in the first.

NOTES: Giants RF Carlos Beltran was scratched from the lineup. Manager Bruce Bochy said he had either serious food poisoning or the flu and was sick all night. … The Padres reinstated OF Chris Denorfia from the 15-day DL before the game. Denorfia had two doubles. … Giants LHP Eric Surkamp (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will make his second career start on Tuesday night. The Padres will counter with LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-4, 5.14).

Dexter Fowler had another terrific game in the leadoff spot, but the Padres won 7-2 to snap a nine-game losing streak.

San Diego scored in three innings, with each of the runs coming with two out. Jeremy Hermida and Will Venable had three RBIs apiece.

“I thought we had a terrific chance to get out of all those innings, but we didn’t,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “In the early part of the game, (Colorado starting pitcher Aaron) Cook did a very competitive job. There was a possibility that he could have gone out there to start the seventh without having a run scored.”

Hermida had an RBI single in the first and a two-run single in the third as the Padres won for the first time since a 7-5 victory at San Francisco on Aug. 23. Venable tripled with the bases loaded in a four-run eighth inning.

“It’s frustrating to lose no matter how well you pitch or how bad you pitch,” Cook said. “You just don’t want to make mistakes with runners on base.”

Cook (3-9) only gave up four hits in six innings, but allowed three runs and walked four. The right-hander dropped to 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 28 career appearances against the Padres.

Mat Latos (7-13) struck out eight in seven innings for San Diego, yielding two runs and five hits.

Fowler collected three hits, including a triple, for the second straight day. Fowler’s 15th triple set a career high and franchise record.

The speedy center fielder now has seven extra-base hits in his last five games. He had two doubles and two triples in the three-game series at spacious Petco Park.

Jesus Guzman finished with three hits as San Diego avoided its first 10-game slide since last season. That losing streak in August and early September fueled the Padres’ collapse after leading the NL West for most of the season.

The Rockies lost at San Diego for just the fourth time in their last 16 games. Colorado has won six of nine here this season.

Hermida helped San Diego build a 3-0 lead with his two-out singles in the first and third. But the Rockies got two back in the fourth. Fowler led off with a triple and scored on Mark Ellis’ grounder. Troy Tulowitzki drew a two-out walk and scored after consecutive singles by Jason Giambi and Seth Smith.

The Padres put it away with four runs in the eighth. Pinch-runner Cameron Maybin scored on second baseman Ellis’ two-out error before Venable hit a three-run triple to center off Matt Lindstrom.

NOTES: The Padres recalled prized 1B prospect Anthony Rizzo from Triple-A Tucson. Rizzo hit only .143 with one homer and six RBIs in 35 games in his first stint with San Diego from June 9 to July 22. … A sore right wrist kept Maybin out of the starting lineup for the eighth straight game. … RHP Esmil Rogers will start for Colorado on Monday against Arizona LHP Wade Miley when the Rockies open a six-game homestand. … Padres RHP Tim Stauffer attempts to rebound from his last start Tuesday at the Los Angeles Dodgers when he walked seven in 1 2-3 innings, including six in an eight-run second inning. Stauffer will face visiting San Francisco and LHP Madison Bumgarner on Monday.

San Diego scored in three innings, with each of the runs coming with two out. Jeremy Hermida and Will Venable had three RBIs apiece.

“I thought we had a terrific chance to get out of all those innings, but we didn’t,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “In the early part of the game, (Colorado starting pitcher Aaron) Cook did a very competitive job. There was a possibility that he could have gone out there to start the seventh without having a run scored.”

Hermida had an RBI single in the first and a two-run single in the third as the Padres won for the first time since a 7-5 victory at San Francisco on Aug. 23. Venable tripled with the bases loaded in a four-run eighth inning.

“It’s frustrating to lose no matter how well you pitch or how bad you pitch,” Cook said. “You just don’t want to make mistakes with runners on base.”

Cook (3-9) only gave up four hits in six innings, but allowed three runs and walked four. The right-hander dropped to 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 28 career appearances against the Padres.

Mat Latos (7-13) struck out eight in seven innings for San Diego, yielding two runs and five hits.

Fowler collected three hits, including a triple, for the second straight day. Fowler’s 15th triple set a career high and franchise record.

The speedy center fielder now has seven extra-base hits in his last five games. He had two doubles and two triples in the three-game series at spacious Petco Park.

Jesus Guzman finished with three hits as San Diego avoided its first 10-game slide since last season. That losing streak in August and early September fueled the Padres’ collapse after leading the NL West for most of the season.

The Rockies lost at San Diego for just the fourth time in their last 16 games. Colorado has won six of nine here this season.

Hermida helped San Diego build a 3-0 lead with his two-out singles in the first and third. But the Rockies got two back in the fourth. Fowler led off with a triple and scored on Mark Ellis’ grounder. Troy Tulowitzki drew a two-out walk and scored after consecutive singles by Jason Giambi and Seth Smith.

The Padres put it away with four runs in the eighth. Pinch-runner Cameron Maybin scored on second baseman Ellis’ two-out error before Venable hit a three-run triple to center off Matt Lindstrom.

NOTES: The Padres recalled prized 1B prospect Anthony Rizzo from Triple-A Tucson. Rizzo hit only .143 with one homer and six RBIs in 35 games in his first stint with San Diego from June 9 to July 22. … A sore right wrist kept Maybin out of the starting lineup for the eighth straight game. … RHP Esmil Rogers will start for Colorado on Monday against Arizona LHP Wade Miley when the Rockies open a six-game homestand. … Padres RHP Tim Stauffer attempts to rebound from his last start Tuesday at the Los Angeles Dodgers when he walked seven in 1 2-3 innings, including six in an eight-run second inning. Stauffer will face visiting San Francisco and LHP Madison Bumgarner on Monday.

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

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Colorado Rockies had a whole bunch of problems Sunday when the San Diego Padres had runners on base with two out.

Dexter Fowler had another terrific game in the leadoff spot, but the Padres won 7-2 to snap a nine-game losing streak.

San Diego scored in three innings, with each of the runs coming with two out. Jeremy Hermida and Will Venable had three RBIs apiece.

“I thought we had a terrific chance to get out of all those innings, but we didn’t,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “In the early part of the game, (Colorado starting pitcher Aaron) Cook did a very competitive job. There was a possibility that he could have gone out there to start the seventh without having a run scored.”

Hermida had an RBI single in the first and a two-run single in the third as the Padres won for the first time since a 7-5 victory at San Francisco on Aug. 23. Venable tripled with the bases loaded in a four-run eighth inning.

“It’s frustrating to lose no matter how well you pitch or how bad you pitch,” Cook said. “You just don’t want to make mistakes with runners on base.”

Cook (3-9) only gave up four hits in six innings, but allowed three runs and walked four. The right-hander dropped to 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 28 career appearances against the Padres.

Mat Latos (7-13) struck out eight in seven innings for San Diego, yielding two runs and five hits.

Fowler collected three hits, including a triple, for the second straight day. Fowler’s 15th triple set a career high and franchise record.

The speedy center fielder now has seven extra-base hits in his last five games. He had two doubles and two triples in the three-game series at spacious Petco Park.

Jesus Guzman finished with three hits as San Diego avoided its first 10-game slide since last season. That losing streak in August and early September fueled the Padres’ collapse after leading the NL West for most of the season.

The Rockies lost at San Diego for just the fourth time in their last 16 games. Colorado has won six of nine here this season.

Hermida helped San Diego build a 3-0 lead with his two-out singles in the first and third. But the Rockies got two back in the fourth. Fowler led off with a triple and scored on Mark Ellis’ grounder. Troy Tulowitzki drew a two-out walk and scored after consecutive singles by Jason Giambi and Seth Smith.

The Padres put it away with four runs in the eighth. Pinch-runner Cameron Maybin scored on second baseman Ellis’ two-out error before Venable hit a three-run triple to center off Matt Lindstrom.

NOTES: The Padres recalled prized 1B prospect Anthony Rizzo from Triple-A Tucson. Rizzo hit only .143 with one homer and six RBIs in 35 games in his first stint with San Diego from June 9 to July 22. … A sore right wrist kept Maybin out of the starting lineup for the eighth straight game. … RHP Esmil Rogers will start for Colorado on Monday against Arizona LHP Wade Miley when the Rockies open a six-game homestand. … Padres RHP Tim Stauffer attempts to rebound from his last start Tuesday at the Los Angeles Dodgers when he walked seven in 1 2-3 innings, including six in an eight-run second inning. Stauffer will face visiting San Francisco and LHP Madison Bumgarner on Monday.

“We know we’re not in it,” Venable said. “But we come to the ballpark wanting to win, expecting to win. When you don’t, it doesn’t feel good.”

Hermida had an RBI single in the first and a two-run single in the third as the Padres won for the first time since a 7-5 victory at San Francisco on Aug. 23. Venable tripled with the bases loaded in a four-run eighth inning.

Mat Latos (7-13) struck out eight in seven innings for San Diego, yielding two runs and five hits.

Colorado’s Dexter Fowler had three hits, including a triple, for the second straight day. Fowler’s 15th triple set a career high and franchise record.

The speedy center fielder now has seven extra-base hits in his last five games. He had two doubles and two triples in the three-game series at spacious Petco Park.

Jesus Guzman finished with three hits as San Diego avoided its first 10-game slide since last season. That losing streak in August and early September fueled the Padres’ collapse after leading the NL West for most of the season.

Latos was determined to stop the skid.

“We’ve struggled a little bit here,” he said. “I decided in my mind that I wanted to go out, and by any means necessary possible, and win this game.”

The Rockies lost at San Diego for just the fourth time in their last 16 games. Colorado has won six of nine here this season.

“I felt like I was blind out there,” said Colorado’s Carlos Gonzalez, who struck out three times against Latos. “He was mixing his curveball and his slider was sharp, too.”

Latos, who routinely throws his fastball in the mid-90s, said it was a conscious decision to use his off-speed pitches more.

“I feel like my curveball was really good,” Latos said. “My slider was good later in the game. It kind of helped me out earlier on when it was looking pretty rough.”

All of San Diego’s run-scoring hits came with two outs.

“You feel good about yourself as a team when you get an early lead,” Venable said.

Rockies starter Aaron Cook (3-9) only gave up four hits in six innings, but allowed three runs and walked four. The right-hander dropped to 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 28 career appearances against the Padres.

Hermida helped San Diego build a 3-0 lead with his two-out singles in the first and third.

“I think it was a matter of time before he got his hits,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He’s too good of a hitter.”

But the Rockies got two back in the fourth. Fowler led off with a triple and scored on Mark Ellis’ grounder. Troy Tulowitzki drew a two-out walk and scored after consecutive singles by Jason Giambi and Seth Smith.

Colorado looked primed for an even bigger inning but Hermida ran down Kevin Kouzmanoff’s drive into the right-field corner for the final out.

“Unbelievable,” Latos said. “That was a big catch. It was definitely a game-changer.”

The Padres put it away with four runs in the eighth. Pinch-runner Cameron Maybin scored on second baseman Ellis’ two-out error before Venable hit a three-run triple to center off Matt Lindstrom.

NOTES: The Padres recalled prized 1B prospect Anthony Rizzo from Triple-A Tucson. Rizzo hit only .143 with one homer and six RBIs in 35 games in his first stint with San Diego from June 9 to July 22. … A sore right wrist kept Maybin out of the starting lineup for the eighth straight game. … RHP Esmil Rogers will start for Colorado on Monday against Arizona LHP Wade Miley when the Rockies open a six-game homestand. … Padres RHP Tim Stauffer attempts to rebound from his last start Tuesday at the Los Angeles Dodgers when he walked seven in 1 2-3 innings, including six in an eight-run second inning. Stauffer will face visiting San Francisco and LHP Madison Bumgarner on Monday.

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

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jeremy Hermida and Will Venable drove in three runs apiece, and the San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 7-2 on Sunday to snap a nine-game losing streak.

Hermida had an RBI single in the first and a two-run single in the third as the Padres won for the first time since a 7-5 win at San Francisco on Aug. 23. Venable tripled with the bases loaded in a four-run eighth inning.

Mat Latos (7-13) struck out eight in seven innings for San Diego, yielding two runs and five hits.

Colorado’s Dexter Fowler had three hits, including a triple, for the second straight day. Fowler’s 15th triple set a career high and franchise record.

The speedy center fielder now has seven extra-base hits in his last five games. He had two doubles and two triples in the three-game series at spacious Petco Park.

Jesus Guzman finished with three hits as San Diego avoided its first 10-game slide since last season. That losing streak in August and early September fueled the Padres’ collapse after leading the NL West for most of the season.

The Rockies lost at San Diego for just the fourth time in their last 16 games. Colorado has won six of nine here this season.

Rockies starter Aaron Cook (3-9) only gave up four hits in six innings, but allowed three runs and walked four. The right-hander dropped to 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 28 career appearances against the Padres.

Hermida helped San Diego build a 3-0 lead with his two-out singles in the first and third. But the Rockies got two back in the fourth. Fowler led off with a triple and scored on Mark Ellis’ grounder. Troy Tulowitzki drew a two-out walk and scored after consecutive singles by Jason Giambi and Seth Smith.

The Padres put it away with four runs in the eighth. Pinch-runner Cameron Maybin scored on second baseman Ellis’ two-out error before Venable hit a three-run triple to center off Matt Lindstrom.

NOTES: The Padres recalled prized 1B prospect Anthony Rizzo from Triple-A Tucson. Rizzo hit only .143 with one homer and six RBIs in 35 games in his first stint with San Diego from June 9 to July 22. … A sore right wrist kept Maybin out of the starting lineup for the eighth straight game. … RHP Esmil Rogers will start for Colorado on Monday against Arizona LHP Wade Miley when the Rockies open a six-game homestand. … Padres RHP Tim Stauffer attempts to rebound from his last start Tuesday at the Los Angeles Dodgers when he walked seven in 1 2-3 innings, including six in an eight-run second inning. Stauffer will face visiting San Francisco and LHP Madison Bumgarner on Monday.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

CBSSports.com wire reports
Aug. 21, 2011

SAN DIEGO — On the day San Diego retired Trevor Hoffman’s No. 51, Heath Bell blew a save.

It turned out that it didn’t hurt that much.

Nick Hundley hit yet another triple and scored on Will Venable’s bases-loaded single with no outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the Padres a 4-3 win on Sunday and a four-game sweep of the Florida Marlins.

“I guess it’s one of those things, on Trevor Hoffman day, only he should get the save, I guess,” said Bell, who became the Padres’ closer in 2009 after Hoffman left the Padres as a free agent and signed with Milwaukee.

Hoffman retired in January as baseball’s all-time saves leader with 601. On Sunday, he became the fifth Padres player to have his number retired.

“The biggest thing is we won the game,” Bell said. `’The thing Trevor was talking about is it’s always a team sport. The team went out there and won the game; picked each other up when we needed to and got a win. That’s really what matters.”

The Padres swept the seven-game season series. Overall, San Diego has won eight straight against the Marlins.

Bell (3-4) was one out away from a four-out save when he allowed Mike Cameron’s solo homer with two outs in the ninth. Bell then loaded the bases on a single, double and intentional walk before striking out John Buck.

Cameron, a former Padres player, homered into the balcony on the third level of the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner. It was his fourth.

“It was frustrating when I blew the save, but you’ve got to give your team a chance to win. If I can only give up one run, all we need was one run in the bottom of the ninth like we did.”

Hundley started the winning rally against Edward Mujica (8-5) in the bottom of the inning when his triple caromed off the center field wall. It was the fourth triple in the last six games for Hundley, the Padres’ catcher. The Marlins then intentionally walked Logan Forsythe and Alberto Gonzalez before Mike Dunn relieved Mujica. The Marlins deployed a five-man infield, with center fielder Cameron playing just to the right of second base. It didn’t help, though, as Venable lofted a single over the head of right fielder Mike Stanton.

Former big league catcher Brad Ausmus, now working in San Diego’s front office, walked by Hundley’s locker and jokingly called him “the world’s fastest catcher.”

“Don’t get used to it,” Hundley replied.

With five triples this season, Hundley tied the club record for a catcher set by Benito Santiago in 1990.

“I’m kind of at a loss for words on that one,” Hundley said. “It’s pretty cool to be tied with him. Hopefully I’ll sneak one more out.”

Hundley thought it was out. “It needed another foot. Fortunately, Will got the job done.”

San Diego, which moved past Los Angeles into fourth in the NL West, has won six of eight. The Marlins, last in the NL East, have dropped 15 of 17. The Marlins were swept in a four-game series for the fourth time this season, a club record.

Cory Luebke struck out eight in six innings for the Padres.

The Padres handed Luebke a 3-0 lead in the first. Venable homered to right on a 2-0 pitch from Anibal Sanchez. It was his fifth of the season and third leadoff homer of his career. Cameron Maybin walked with one out, Orlando Hudson doubled with two outs and both scored on Kyle Blanks’ double to left-center.

“We just cannot afford to give up three runs in the first inning,” Florida manager Jack McKeon said. “It’s not going to work. There is no margin for error.”

Stanton hit his 30th homer, a solo shot with two outs in the fourth. Stanton had homered in four straight games coming into this series. John Buck hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth to score Greg Dobbs, who reached on a pinch single and advanced on two wild pitches by Luke Gregerson.

Luebke held the Marlins to one run and three hits in six innings. He walked none.

Sanchez allowed three runs and six hits in five innings, struck out three and walked two.

Cameron wasn’t able to enjoy his homer for long.

“The ball was traveling,” he said. “The rest is pretty much the same old story. We found ways to lose the ballgame.”

Notes

• Luebke has struck out eight or more batters in three of his last four starts.
• The Marlins lead the majors in most first-inning runs allowed with 101. They allowed 20 first-inning runs during the season series against the Padres, and 11 in this four-game series.
• After a day off, Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco (9-9, 4.25 ERA) will open a three-game homestand needing just one strikeout to become the club’s career strikeout leader. He will be opposed by Cincinnati right-hander Johnny Cueto (9-5, 1.89).
• Righty Mat Latos (6-12, 3.83) will start the Padres’ eight-game road trip Tuesday night at San Francisco against Giants right-hander Matt Cain (10-9, 2,86).

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 20 (UPI) — A two-run homer by Kyle Blanks highlighted the offense Friday and the San Diego Padres held on to edge Florida 4-3.

The teams combined to use 11 pitchers in a game that was in doubt until Heath Bell retired Mike Cameron for the final out in the ninth with the potential tying run on base.

The homer by Blanks, his fourth of the season, came in the fourth inning and gave the Padres a 3-2 lead.

Jason Bartlett added to the San Diego advantage with an RBI single in the fifth and the Padres fought off the Marlins the rest of the way despite persistent threats.

Florida loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but could produce only one run when reliever Erik Hamren walked Emilio Bonifacio.

The Marlins wasted a two-out double in the seventh and had two runners on with just one away in the eighth without scoring.

Bell gave up a leadoff walk in the ninth but retired the next three batters for his 34th save. He protected the win for starter Wade LeBlanc (2-2), who gave up three runs over 5 1/3 innings.

The loss went to Chris Volstad (5-1), who surrendered four runs on six hits in five innings.

Kyle Blanks hit a two-run homer and made a great catch in left field, but it was the effort from San Diego’s bullpen that proved key.

Five relievers combined to limit the Marlins to two hits in 3 2-3 innings. But there was perhaps no moment bigger than when Hamren came in to protect a 4-2 lead with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning in relief of Wade LeBlanc.

Hamren fooled Stanton on a slider for the second out, then walked Emilio Bonifacio on four pitches to force in a run before settling down to strike out Gaby Sanchez.

“Hamren got thrown into the fire against one of the best young hitters in the game,” San Diego manager Bud Black said about the duel with Stanton. “He responded and made pitches. It should be a great learning experience and a confidence builder as well.”

Hamren, who made his major league debut Aug. 1, acknowledged he’s still learning not to be star-struck.

“I’m starting to move beyond that,” Hamren said. “I’m starting to get more settled now, a little more comfortable. But it always lingers in the back of your head. But you just try to push that aside as much as possible.”

Stanton homered in four straight games coming into Thursday’s series opener. He is among the NL leaders with 27 homers and 76 RBIs. Stanton was a late scratch from the lineup with a sore left big toe.

“I did my job because I kept the lead,” Hamren said. “Obviously, you don’t want to give up any runs coming in. As long as we still came out with the lead, you learn to live with some mistakes because you’re not going to be perfect all the time.”

Hamren has seen action in eight innings over seven games since coming up from Double-A San Antonio. He is part of a young bullpen that will get a chance to prove themselves.

“We’re finding out about guys,” Black said. “For a lot of players, every day is a job interview. I think these guys sense that.”

Blanks crushed a ball into the second deck in left field to put the Padres ahead to stay 3-2 in the fourth inning. The 6-foot-6 Blanks also made a running catch to rob Sanchez of an extra-base hit in the fifth inning.

The Padres handed Florida its 13th loss in 15 games. San Diego won its fifth straight over the Marlins this season, outscoring them 30-10.

LeBlanc (2-2) had a shaky outing but the bullpen held the Marlins in check to give San Diego its fourth win in six games after dropping four of the previous six.

Heath Bell pitched the ninth for this 34th save in 37 chances.

Blanks’ towering shot off Chris Volstad (5-10) was his fourth. Volstad has allowed 20 homers in 22 starts this season.

“It’s been pretty common,” Volstad said. “I hung a slider to (Blanks) for two runs. It was a tough one. It’s getting pretty frustrating for me.”

Jose Lopez had three doubles to tie a Marlins record and drove in a run in the first inning. Volstad added an RBI double in the fourth. Florida stranded 12 base runners.

San Diego scored in the first after Will Venable led off with a walk, stole second and scored on Cameron Maybin’s single. The Marlins have allowed eight first-inning runs in their last three games.

LeBlanc won his second straight start after having gone eight starts without a win, dating back to last August. The lefty allowed three runs on six hits over 5 1-3 innings. He walked four and struck out three.

Volstad lasted five innings after giving up four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.

NOTES: San Diego has hit a major league-low 69 home runs. … Stanton hurt his left big toe Thursday night when he jammed it against the right-field wall while chasing Nick Hundley’s triple. … Petco Park sported two large logos in foul territory down the first and third base lines in commemoration of Sunday’s retirement ceremony for Trevor Hoffman, baseball’s career saves leader. … Marlins RHP Edward Mujica pitched for the first time since Monday night when he left with a sore right lat muscle. … On Saturday, Florida right-hander Clay Hensley (1-4, 4.53 ERA) will make his first start and third appearance against his former team when he faces Padres’ right-hander Aaron Harang (11-3, 4.08), who is 6-1 over his last 13 starts.

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