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Giles, bullpen lead Padres past Nationals

May 3, 2007 - 6:19 AM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The San Diego Padres got a much-needed boost from Marcus Giles and their bullpen.

Giles had two hits in his return from a brief absence on Wednesday and the San Diego bullpen pitched well in relief of injured starter Clay Hensley as the Padres posted a 7-3 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Hensley left the game with a strained groin in the third inning. He is listed as day-to-day.

"It doesn't look good," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We don't know the extent of the strain just yet, but from all indications, it looks like it's going to be a (disabled list stint). Right away the doctors felt like this was going to be at least two weeks. We'll know better in a couple of days."

Facing Felipe Lopez with a 1-2 count, Hensley ran after a foul ball. After being checked by the trainer, He threw just one warm-up pitch and left the game.

"When he made that quick break (towards the foul ball), that's when he did it," said Black, who also indicated the club will likely promote a pitcher from the minors to fill Hensley's spot in the rotation. "It's unfortunate. It looked as though he had made strides his last couple of starts. t's a bump in the road for Clay, but hopefully it's not too long."

Doug Brocail (2-0) came on in relief of Hensley and picked up the win with two perfect innings. Heath Bell, Cla Meredith, Scott Linebrink and Royce Ring combined to pitch the final five innings for the Padres.

"It was one of those situations where we could've thrown anybody out there," Brocail said. "I figured it was going to be me or (reliever Kevin Cameron). We've got some horses in our bullpen. I'm just glad to be in the mix."

"Doug showed his professionalism and his experience coming out of the 'pen unphased," Black said. "He came right out of the chute throwing strikes and got through two crisp innings. Great job, and it set the tone for really the rest of the night."

San Diego broke the game open with a five-run fourth, highlighted by a two-run double by Giles, who had missed the last two games with a rib injury.

"It feels great to get back into the mix with the guys and help us win a game," Giles said. "Being on the bench hurt is miserable. It's just nice to get back in there today and put some runs on the board and win a series again."

With the win, the Padres prevented the Nationals from winning their first series of the season.

Adrian Gonzalez homered off Ray King leading off the eighth inning and Terrmel Sledge added an RBI double later in the frame for the Padres.

Washington starter Matt Chico (2-3) also left the game early but because of a poor performance, not injury. Chico allowed five runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings with four walks and two strikeouts.

"Pretty much those three walks in the fourth inning killed me," Chico said. "Especially with them scoring, that was the outcome of the game I thought. I was trying to throw my strikes, and once I got a few runners on base, I was trying a little too hard to throw strikes. I guess I was just pressing a little too much."

A rookie lefthander, Chico has yet to make it through the sixth inning this season. He left the game after surrendering the double to Giles.

"It was just poor command," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "When you throw more balls than strikes at this level, things are not going to happen. He was a few pitches from getting out of it. Still, you have to throw more strikes at this level, especially with the first pitch."