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Maddux sharp again as Padres edge Rockies

Sep 9, 2007 - 4:12 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux continues to come through for the San Diego Padres down the stretch.

Maddux pitched six stellar frames to win career No. 345 and his fifth straight decision as the Padres held on for a 3-1 triumph over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.

The 41-year-old Maddux (12-9) allowed just one run and three hits with no walks and three strikeouts. He has now posted a 5-0 record with a 1.89 ERA in his last six starts - all Padres victories.

"They just hit everything to somebody," Maddux said. "It's one of those things. Every time they hit it, it was right at somebody."

"He had some great stuff tonight," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He was in control of his movements and he got on a roll there. It doesn't surprise me anymore."

The wins could not be coming at a better time as San Diego (77-64) is battling for the National League West crown, trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks (79-63) by 1 1/2 games. The Diamondbacks host the St. Louis Cardinals later Saturday.

The Padres provided Maddux with all the offense he needed in the second inning. Kevin Kouzmanoff delivered an RBI single off Rockies starter Jeff Francis (15-7) and Khalil Greene scored when Josh Bard grounded into a double play to give the Padres a 2-0 lead.

Maddux surrendered an RBI single to Garrett Atkins in the bottom half of the inning but then finished his night by retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.

"He's fun to play behind," Greene said. "He's a guy who works quickly and throws strikes. Even when he gives up runs, he has a great knack of damage control. He's still a great pitcher."

"His sinker was tough tonight," Rockies rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "He had his best stuff against me tonight. I think the other guys here would say that too."

Doug Brocail and Heath Bell combined to pitch two scoreless innings before Trevor Hoffman entered in the ninth and registered his 37th save. Hoffman fanned Todd Helton, who led off the frame, to record his 1,000th career strikeout.

"It's been pretty lopsided, that's for sure," Hoffman said of his battles with Helton over the years. "If there's a little bit of nostalgia for myself in the whole scheme of it, so be it. I'm just happy to get the first out of the inning."

"I thought the fastball command was great," Black said. "The strikeout to Helton was a change up, as were the outs to Atkins and Hawpe. Those were set up by the fastball, which were very crisp by Trevor."

Colorado made it interesting in the eighth inning. With two outs, Willy Tavares singled on a bunt down the third base line. He stole second and was replaced by Cory Sullivan.

Sullivan moved to third on an infield single by Kaz Matsui. With the crowd on its feet and Matt Holliday at the plate, Bell got Holliday to chase after a 98-mph fastball to end the inning.

"I thought he couldn't catch up," Bell said. "He's a good off-speed hitter. I had a good fastball today and I figured I could blow him away on the outside corner."

"Hard fastball away," Black said. "He's had some good battles there. The Holliday at-bat was critical for both teams. Heath made a good pitch and Matt swung through it."

Francis was the tough-luck loser, yielding two runs and four hits with two walks and three strikeouts over eight innings. It was Francis' first lost in his last four starts.

"He pitched a fine ballgame tonight," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "Tough to take that loss, but those things are going to happen. He shouldn't hang his head on this one. He did a fine job."

San Diego added another run in the ninth on an RBI single by Greene to extend its advantage to 3-1.