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Germano stays perfect as Padres top Brewers

May 27, 2007 - 6:39 AM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Justin Germano is doing his best to make an upcoming decision a difficult one.

Germano threw six solid innings and Mike Cameron contributed a two-run home run as the San Diego Padres topped the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-3, on Saturday.

The 24-year-old righthander, filling in for injured starter Clay Hensley, won his third straight start and has allowed just three earned runs in 25 innings since being recalled from Class AAA Portland earlier this month.

"I'm just doing whatever I can to stay on this team," Germano said. "Hopefully it's starting but if not, it's in the pen and I'd be happy with that just because I want to stay here and help the team."

Germano (3-0) gave up two runs and five hits while striking out four. He did not walk a batter.

"It's still early," he said. "It's only been four starts so I'm trying not to get too caught up in that. Each time out there hopefully have a good outing and earn that next start, but just try not to get too far ahead of myself."

Hensley, meanwhile, has made two rehab starts for Portland, and the club has yet to decide both when he will return and in what capacity. Germano's immediate future has been decided

"(Germano) is going to make another (start), and probably another one after that," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He's made a definite statement. It's great to see. Like all of our starters, he's got to keep his focus on his next start."

Cla Meredith and Scott Linebrink pitched scoreless innings in relief for the Padres before Doug Brocail walked two batters in the ninth to set up a save situation for closer Trevor Hoffman. The all-time saves leader walked in a run before getting Rickie Weeks to foul out for his 14th save and 496th of his career.

"I felt good today," said Hoffman, who missed Friday's game with arm soreness. "I had a lot of life on the ball that was important, and threw strikes. I felt good yesterday but it was just erring on the side of caution. It was just basically another day off."

Rob Bowen added three hits and drove in a run for San Diego, who has won four of five and nine of their last 12 games to pull even with the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West.

The Padres jumped on Milwaukee starter Claudio Vargas (3-1) in the first inning as Marcus Giles led off with a double before Cameron drove a 3-1 pitch into the left field seats.

"It's just good to square the ball up," Cameron said. "I got in a good hitter's count and got a good pitch in my zone and put a good swing on it."

After Geoff Jenkins and Ryan Braun evened the score with solo shots in the second and third, Jose Cruz Jr. put San Diego back on top for good with a solo home run of his own in third.

"I thought Claudio was OK," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "He made some mistakes in the first inning that cost him a few runs. He battled back, but then he got a pitch up to Cruz."

Vargas lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up 10 hits and four runs, while striking out five and not walking a batter.

"I tip my hat off to the (San Diego) hitters," Vargas said. "I threw a lot of good pitches close to the zone and they were not swinging. So, they pushed me to throw a strike, and I made a couple of pitches up in the zone and those were the ones they hit, when I missed a spot."

Braun recorded his first career multi-hit game with a pair of singles to go with his first major league home run.

The Brewers dropped their fifth straight series and have lost 10 of 13.

"I'm seeing signs (of improvement) every day," Yost said. "The kids are out there battling and fighting. They're not giving up. If we can continue to do that, we'll be in good shape. It's just a matter of time."