08/27/2008 - San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jody Gerut had three hits, including the game-winning RBI single in the eighth, as San Diego defeated Arizona, 5-4, to complete a three-game sweep of the NL West-leading Diamondbacks.
Nick Hundley hit a two-run homer while Edgar Gonzalez and Chase Headley had RBI singles as part of San Diego's five-run comeback. Mike Adams (2-3) got the win with a scoreless eighth frame. Padres starter Cha Seung Baek lasted 5 2/3 innings in the no-decision after giving up two runs on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts to remain winless over his last four starts.
San Diego, playing the role of spoiler, swept the D'Backs with wins against Dan Haren and NL Cy Young Award candidate Brandon Webb before besting future Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson. The Padres entered the series on a seven-game skid and hold the National League's second-worst mark at 51-82.
"At this point, we're probably just going to be spoilers here. We're going to make other teams sweat a little," Gerut said of San Diego's sweep. "The last thing we want to do is have people come in and think we're pushovers. I think this series is a good message that we're going to continue to fight."
Despite the sweep, Arizona continues to hold a 2 1/2 game advantage in the NL West by virtue of the LA Dodgers' current five-game skid. The Dodgers continue a three-game set with Washington later Wednesday.
Johnson received his second straight no-decision after winning six of eight starts and remains six wins shy of becoming the 24th pitcher to reach 300 wins. The veteran lefty allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while fanning nine in seven innings. He also contributed at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI single.
Miguel Montero, Chris Young, and Mark Reynolds also knocked in a run each as part of a four-run sixth. The D'Backs, who have lost four straight and five of their last six, have had the bullpen register losses in three of those games.
Chad Qualls (2-8) came on for Johnson in the eighth and was greeted by a single from Brian Giles, who moved to second on a sacrifice. Headley tied the game with an RBI single to right two batters later, stole second and scored the go-ahead run on a single to right from Gerut.
Trevor Hoffman entered in the ninth to earn his 27th save of the season by striking out the side.
In the visitors' sixth, Chad Tracy singled with one out, moved to third on a single to left from Adam Dunn and scored on a Reynolds sacrifice fly. Baek exited in favor of Clay Hensley, who immediately gave up an RBI triple to Montero and an RBI double to Young. Johnson completed the scoring by lacing a run-scoring single to left.
The Pads made it a game with a three-run seventh. Gerut tripled to right- center with one away and scored on a Gonzalez infield single. Hundley followed with a two-run shot to left to make it a one-run game.
"The pitch to Hundley, it kind of came out of nowhere the way he was pitching," Arizona skipper Bob Melvin said of Johnson's performance. "He was cruising pretty well and all of a sudden it's a 4-3 ballgame and a completely different game after that."
Game Notes
Arizona swept a three-game series from the Padres last week and finished off the season series with a 10-8 edge, with four of those victories coming in San Diego...The Padres will play host to the Rockies for a three-game weekend set following an off-day Thursday while Arizona returns home for a decisive three- game series with the Dodgers following Thursday's off-day...The Padres optioned pitcher Josh Banks to Triple-A Portland and activated pitcher Bryan Corey from the 15- day disabled list and sent him to Portland prior to the game.
<< Padres send Banks, Corey to minors
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres optioned pitcher
Josh Banks to Triple-A Portland and activated pitcher Bryan Corey from the 15-
day disabled list and sent him to Portland Wednesday.
Banks, 26, was 3-6 with a 4.
<< Djokovic, Davydenko cruise in Big Apple
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Last year's runner-up Novak
Djokovic of Serbia and Russian star Nikolay Davydenko were easy first-round
winners Wednesday at the U.S. Open.
A third-seeded Djokovic won his seventh match in his last
<< Dodgers recall DeWitt, designate Ozuna for assignment
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled third
baseman Blake DeWitt from Triple-A Las Vegas Wednesday and designated
utilityman Pablo Ozuna for assignment.
DeWitt, an unlikely starter at the hot corne
<< Lakers sign second-round pick Crawford
El Segundo, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers signed second-
round draft pick guard Joe Crawford on Wednesday. Per team policy, terms of
the agreement were not released.
Crawford, 22, started all six games for the Lak
Braves obtain Dessens >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves signed pitcher Elmer
Dessens on Wednesday to a contract through the end of this season. He is
expected to be added to the club's roster later this week.
Dessens, 37, last pitche
Portland signs F Jackson, two rookies >>
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers signed a trio
of players Wednesday including forward Luke Jackson and two rookies, center
Steven Hill and guard Jamaal Tatum.
Per team policy, terms of the contracts were no
Johnson goes the distance to lead Fish past Bravos >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Johnson's brilliant four-hitter marked the
first complete game of his career and Dan Uggla was the offensive catalyst, as
the Florida Marlins defeated the Atlanta Braves, 4-1, and evened their three-
game se
Pena's homer provides lone run as Rays edge Blue Jays >>
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Pena homered and Matt Garza went
7 2/3 strong innings as Tampa Bay edged Toronto, 1-0, in the second tilt of a
three-game series at Tropicana Field.
Garza (11-7) allowed only six hits without
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
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