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Germano, Padres shut down Cardinals

May 14, 2007 - 12:48 AM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Justin Germano was the latest pitcher to feast on the feeble offense of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Germano allowed three hits in seven innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 3-0 victory over the Cardinals in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Recalled from Class AAA Portland on Monday, Germano (1-0) notched only the second win of his career - and first since 2004 - in his second start of the season.

"I'm not fooling anyone, I don't throw 95 miles an hour," Germano said. "I just go out there and try to get that sinker working and get them to hit the ball into the ground and get themselves out. I usually get curveball-happy, but they just kept rolling over on that fastball and later in the game I was able to flip up that curveball and get some strikeouts."

The 24-year-old righthander, who was drafted by the Padres in 2000, struck out three and did not walk a batter. He set down the first 13 batters he faced before Scott Rolen singled with one out in the fifth.

"(Germano) pitched great," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He threw the ball extremely well, located his fastball with movement, mixed in some breaking balls as the game went on. His change of pace was great. He really had them off balance."

Scott Linebrink pitched a scoreless eighth and Trevor Hoffman set down the side in order in the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances.

Germano had been dominant at Portland, posting a 4-0 mark and 1.69 ERA in five starts. He had a strong season debut against Atlanta on Tuesday, yielding one run and three hits in six innings.

"He backed up a very good game in Atlanta with an even better one today," Black said. "In these two starts, he's continued on what he did in Portland, which obviously opened our eyes. I think confidence is a big thing and location of the fastball. He seems to be in a nice groove mechanically and mentally."

St. Louis scored five runs in the third inning of Saturday's 5-0 win but failed to push across a run in any of the other 26 innings in the series.

"I really think it's just guys pressing," shortstop Aaron Miles said. "(Germano is) a guy that you walk away from the game thinking he shouldn't beat us. This guy is a guy that you would hope to face every day you come to the yard. But, tip your cap to him, he threw a good game. He's got a pretty good sinker when he wants to, I just think guys had an off day."

It continued a troubling trend for the defending World Series champions. In their last nine games, they have scored all of their runs for a game in one inning five times and have been shut out four times.

"I look at how hard you compete," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "If you compete hard, then I think it's going to work. It's hard to tell, because (Germano) really walked right through us. If (the hitters) say he was really good, then that's the answer."

Anthony Reyes (0-6) absorbed another hard-luck defeat for St. Louis. The 25-year-old righthander was touched up for three runs and five hits in five innings, extending his winless streak to 11 starts.

The last victory for Reyes came against Pittsburgh on September 3, 2006.

"The team hasn't taken care of (Reyes) very well," La Russa said. "He deserves better. I'm just disappointed we didn't do more to win the game for Anthony. It's embarassing."

The Padres got the only runs they would need in the first inning.

Marcus Giles drew a leadoff walk, moved to third on Jose Cruz Jr.'s double and scored on a groundout by Brian Giles.

Adrian Gonzalez followed with a single to left to plate Cruz for a 2-0 lead.

"Reyes, we sort of took advantage of him maybe not locating his fastball early," Black said. "Marcus drew the walk. Adrian took what he gave him and shot that ball into left field. That gave us a nice start, and then Reyes started to settle in a little bit after that. He pitched well also. I just think overall, we outpitched them today."

San Diego made it 3-0 in the fifth, with Marcus Giles again providing the spark with a leadoff single. He moved to third on a single by Cruz and scored when Reyes committed a balk.

The best scoring chance for the Cardinals came in the sixth, when two-out singles by pinch hitter Ryan Ludwick and Adam Kennedy put runners at the corners, but Germano retired Chris Duncan on a fly ball to left.