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Hudson helps D-Backs top Padres

Jun 3, 2012 - 4:46 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Daniel Hudson pitched eight strong innings and added an RBI as the Arizona Diamondbacks downed the San Diego Padres, 4-2, in the middle test of a three-game series on Saturday.

Hudson (2-1) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in Arizona's second win in three games. Hudson, who threw 68 of his 112 pitches for strikes, made his second start since returning from a right shoulder injury.

"I was on a pitch count my first time," Hudson said. "To be able to finally let loose, go out and throw strikes, get early outs, was pretty uplifting for me."

Paul Goldschmidt homered, while J.J. Putz worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 12th save of the season for Arizona.

Joe Thatcher (0-1) gave up the deciding run in the seventh inning on a balk to suffer the loss.

Edinson Volquez gave up two runs on four hits and five walks in a six-inning start for San Diego, which lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Thatcher took the mound for San Diego to start the seventh with the game tied, 2-2, and allowed consecutive one-out singles to Gerardo Parra and Willie Bloomquist to place runners on the corners.

Jason Kubel stepped up next and during his at-bat, Thatcher was called for a balk, allowing Parra to score and Bloomquist to move to second. Third base umpire Brian Gorman called the balk.

"For a tie ball game in that inning to be decided on a balk call, to me it wasn't the right thing to do," Thatcher said.

But Thatcher eventually fanned Kubel and new pitcher Luke Gregerson induced a Goldschmidt groundout to short to end the inning and keep it a 3-2 game.

Arizona added an insurance run in the eighth on Parra's bases-loaded walk off Alex Hinshaw that plated Montero.

Putz then hit Carlos Quentin with a pitch and Chase Headley followed with a base hit to place runners on the corners with two outs in the ninth, but pinch-hitter Jesus Guzman lined out to first base to end the game.

Arizona left a man on second in the first and second innings before finally breaking through in the fourth after loading the bases with no outs on back- to-back walks by Miguel Montero and Chris Young, and a bunt single by Josh Bell.

The Diamondbacks would only get one run, though, as Hudson lifted a one-out sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Montero before Parra went down swinging to end the inning.

San Diego quickly answered in the bottom of the frame when Will Venable led off with a bunt single, stole second and crossed the plate on Cameron Maybin's base hit to right field.

Maybin advanced to second on Parra's throw home on the play and scored the next batter on a Yonder Alonso single to put the Padres on top, 2-1.

Goldschmidt then blasted a solo home run over the left-field wall in the fifth inning to knot the game at two.

Game Notes

Goldschmidt extended his career-best hitting streak to 11 games...Hudson improved to 5-1 in six career starts against the Padres...Arizona has won 13 of the last 19 meetings between the teams...The Diamondbacks went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base...San Diego hit 2- for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded four.