• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Ludwick helps Padres earn DH split with Cubs

Apr 21, 2011 - 4:36 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Ryan Ludwick capped a huge day at the plate with three hits, including a two-run homer, and the San Diego Padres held on for a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs to split a doubleheader.

Ludwick finished the day 5-for-8 after slapping two hits in the first game, which the Cubs won 2-1 on Reed Johnson's home run in the 11th inning.

"That's a long day of baseball," said Cubs manager Mike Quade.

Aaron Harang (4-0) won the nightcap for San Diego despite yielding nine hits and two runs in six innings. He struck out five without a walk.

Heath Bell pitched the ninth inning for his fifth save, getting Darwin Barney looking on a breaking ball to end the game after surrendering a two-out single to Kosuke Fukudome.

James Russell (1-2) took the loss, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk in four-plus innings.

Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, who lost despite out-hitting San Diego 13-12.

Cameron Maybin and Chris Denorfia belted solo homers for the Padres, who salvaged the three-game series after dropping the first two games. Maybin had two hits and two runs scored, while Denorfia added three hits.

The Padres went 3-4 on a seven-game road trip and are headed back to San Diego for a seven-game homestand, beginning with a four-game set against the Phillies that starts Thursday.

"This month has had quite a few ups and downs for us, but we've been battling and competing till the end and it's nice to get a big win going home," said Maybin.

Ludwick also flashed his glove, making a diving catch in left field to end the first inning. He popped an 0-1 curveball over the seats in left field to give the Padres a 2-0 lead in the second inning.

Maybin homered to dead center field in the fourth inning and Denorfia lined a pitch just over the wall and into the basket in left field leading off the fifth. The blast gave San Diego a 4-0 lead and knocked Russell out of the game for Jeff Stevens.

The Cubs got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth. Soriano led off with a double and came home on Johnson's double with one out. The Padres threw Johnson out at third on the play, but Chicago scored on three straight singles by Jeff Baker, Fukudome and Darwin Barney.

San Diego took a 5-2 lead on Alberto Gonzalez' sacrifice fly in the sixth, which scored Ludwick after he doubled and moved to third on Rob Johnson's single.

Ernesto Frieri pitched a scoreless seventh for San Diego, but Soriano crushed a two-out offering from Chad Qualls into the left field seats in the eighth to get the Cubs within 5-4.

The Padres squandered a chance to add runs in the top of the ninth against John Grabow when Gonzalez was caught stealing and Denorfia was picked off.

Game Notes

The teams were rained out Tuesday...The Cubs' nine-game homestand continues with a three-game weekend series against the Dodgers.