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Bedard sharp as Orioles hold off Padres

Jun 22, 2007 - 12:17 AM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Erik Bedard and the Baltimore Orioles may be starting a streak of a new kind.

Bedard pitched six solid innings and Alberto Castillo hit his first home run in over two years as the Orioles topped the San Diego Padres, 6-3, on Thursday.

It was the second straight win for Baltimore, which had dropped nine in a row prior to Wednesday's triumph, and gave the Orioles their first series win in six chances.

"That was a great W for everybody," Castillo said. "It was great for me, for the team, the organization and even the manager. We all did a good job today."

Bedard (5-4) allowed two runs and five hits without a walk, striking out nine to push his American League-leading total to 121.

The 28-year-old lefthander, who left the game after straining his left hamstring, won for just the second time in 13 starts despite having allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last 10.

"It happened in the last inning," Bedard said of the injury. "I've never had it before, so I couldn't tell you (the extent). I was throwing strikes today and just trying to get ahead in the count."

"I did not take Bedard out of the game because of any significant strategy," Orioles interim manager Dave Trembley said. "Bedard's hamstring got tight. I don't know if he did it pushing off the mound to field a bunt or pushing off during his delivery, but it got tight. We went on the side of caution, and I took him out."

Castillo drove a 1-2 pitch from San Diego starter David Wells down the left field line with one out in the sixth to give Baltimore a 3-1 lead. The solo shot was the catcher's first homer since April 19, 2005 against Cleveland.

"I've been here before," said Castillo, whose roster spot is in jeopardy with the upcoming return of starter Ramon Hernandez from the disabled list. "It's nice to get an opportunity and show what you're capable of doing."

Wells (3-5) allowed three runs - two earned - and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking three.

San Diego opened the scoring when Hiram Bocachica led off the third with a double and advanced on a sacrifice by Wells before coming home on Marcus Giles' groundout.

Baltimore answered with a run in the fourth. After leading off with a double and moving to third on Corey Patterson's sacrifice, Jay Payton crossed the plate a sacrifice fly by Castillo.

The Orioles took the lead in the fifth, when San Diego rookie third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff's throwing error allowed Nick Markakis to score.

Giles singled to lead off the sixth and scored when Mike Cameron grounded into a forceout, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

The Orioles took control against reliever Heath Bell in the eighth. Former Padre Chris Gomez, who entered the game in the first as a pinch runner for Miguel Tejada, doubled to right field with the bases loaded, plating Castillo and Patterson for a 5-2 advantage.

"I was just going out there trying to have good at-bats and hopefully find holes," Gomez said. "(Bell) is a tough pitcher. They've got a great pitching staff, and you try to get what you can."

Tejada was hit on the left wrist with a pitch in Wednesday's game and is listed as day-to-day.

"(Tejada) said he was OK before the game," Trembley said. "He wanted to give it a shot. When he got up (to the plate), he didn't feel comfortable. He still wanted to play, and I made the decision to take him out. Hopefully, he'll be OK (Friday), and we'll go from there."

Michael Barrett made his debut with the Padres a day after being acquired from the Chicago Cubs but had no success, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Cameron went 2-for-4 for San Diego, which has lost five of six at home.

"I think we ran into two of the best pitchers in the American League the last two nights," Black said. "That's how I see it."