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Venable, Latos carry Padres past Cubs

Sep 27, 2011 - 5:53 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Will Venable's solo homer was all the offense the Padres needed as they took down the Cubs, 2-0, in the opener of a three- game, season-ending series.

Mat Latos (9-14) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning as he tossed seven shutout frames, allowing just two hits and a walk while fanning nine. He has now allowed three runs or less in 16 out of his past 17 outings.

Heath Bell pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 43rd save of the year in the Padres' seventh win in 10 games.

Casey Coleman (3-9) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven through 5 2/3 innings. His triple in the sixth inning broke up Latos' no-hit bid.

Starlin Castro singled for the Cubs' only other hit as Chicago dropped its third straight game.

San Diego broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning when Venable led off the frame with a home run. Jesus Guzman hit ground-rule double two batters later and crossed the plate on Cameron Maybin's two-bagger

Coleman's triple with one out in the sixth was just the Cubs second base runner of the game -- Carlos Pena walked in the fifth. Coleman was stranded there as Tony Campana bunted back to the mound and Darwin Barney flied out to right to end the inning.

Castro led off the seventh with a single, promptly stole second, and moved to third on a Bryan LaHair groundout, but Steve Clevenger popped up to the catcher to end the inning.

Chad Qualls pitched a perfect eighth before Bell shut the door in the ninth.

Game Notes

Latos improved to 2-2 in four career starts against the Cubs...Castro extended his hit streak to nine games...The Cubs went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position...The Cubs were shutout for the 10th time this season.