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Giants-Padres Preview

Apr 21, 2010 - 6:51 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

San Francisco (8-6) at San Diego (8-6), 6:35 p.m. EDT

The San Diego Padres' pitching has been so good, even getting only one hit wasn't enough to stop the club's surprising winning streak.

The Padres look to give more offensive support to their pitchers as they try for their sixth straight victory Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants.

San Diego (8-6) got off to a 3-6 start, but the Padres have posted a 0.98 ERA during the ensuing winning streak - a run that has given them at least a share of first place for the first time since last April 18.

Looking to complete a sweep of the Giants (8-6), the Padres will be trying for their first six-game win streak since a 10-game run from May 15-25.

That's due mostly to their pitching, which allowed them to win 1-0 on Tuesday. Mat Latos and two relievers combined on a two-hitter, and Chase Headley provided the only offense San Diego needed by hitting a fourth-inning single and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Scott Hairston.

"Yeah, the Pads are exciting. We can do it with one hit," said closer Heath Bell, who got his fourth save. "Imagine what we can do with 10 hits."

San Diego has won nine of 11 against San Francisco at Petco Park with a 1.60 ERA.

Jon Garland (0-2, 3.60 ERA) looks to give San Diego another outstanding effort on the mound as he tries a fourth time for his first win.

Garland battled through five innings Friday before the Padres rallied for 6-3 victory over Arizona. The right-hander threw 96 pitches, allowing three unearned runs and walking five.

He has received two runs of support in his three starts.

Garland is 2-0 with a 2.42 ERA in three career starts versus the Giants, holding them to one run in eight innings of a 12-1 win Sept. 19 while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

San Francisco is looking to end a three-game slide and will turn to Todd Wellemeyer (0-2, 9.58), who is coming a rough outing. He lasted four innings and surrendered seven runs and three homers in a 10-8 loss to the Dodgers on Friday.

"It's a difficult task, especially when the zone was as small as it was (Friday)," Wellemeyer said. "When you throw a strike, you expect it to be (called) a strike. That's all I'm asking for. It's a big difference when you walk the leadoff guy than when you striking him out, but you've just got to go from there and keep battling."

Wellemeyer won his last two starts against the Padres, although he gave up five runs in 6 1-3 innings of the most recent one, a 6-5 St. Louis victory over San Diego on July 19, 2008.