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Cameron leads Padres to extra-inning win

Jun 1, 2007 - 4:14 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Some extra-inning fireworks provided enough excitement to overshadow a classic pitchers' duel.

Mike Cameron supplied the power and the San Diego Padres' bullpen provided its usual solid work to secure a 4-2 win in 11 innings over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

Cameron's solo shot looked like the first in a back-to-back set with Josh Bard following, but Bard's homer was called back after the umpires decided that it glanced off a railing in deep right field before bouncing back into the field of play.

The call brought Bard running back out of the dugout screaming at the umpires. The angry catcher was ejected by home plate umpire Ed Rapuano, and Padres manager Bud Black was tossed by third base umpire Joe West for continuing the argument.

"When it left the bat, just from our view in the dugout, it looked as though it was way out," Black said. "I think everybody in the dugout thought it cleared that railing and hit that railing and went sort of off that diagonal (sloping) railing up there. That's what I saw, but as it turns out I didn't have the benefit of the replay, and when I got ejected, I was able to come in and look at four or five different replays, and it looked as though the umpires made a good call."

Bard also conceded that, after looking at the video, the umpires got the call right, according to the PNC Park ground rules.

"I made a mistake," Bard said. "I've got a lot of respect for Ed (Rapuano) and Joe West and the guys out there, and I think they've been around a long time and done it the right way. My intent wasn't to go after anybody. I was just going out to argue the call."

Heath Bell, Doug Brocail, Scott Linebrink, Cla Meredith (2-2) and Trevor Hoffman combined to throw 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for San Diego, which owns the best team ERA in the majors at 2.97.

Hoffman got the save, his 16th of the season.

The Pirates held a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning before closer Salomon Torres allowed two runs in the ninth to even the score. After Adrian Gonzalez doubled home a run, Cameron followed with a double to tie the the game 2-2.

"I'm just feeling comfortable now," Cameron said. "I'm seeing the ball pretty good."

Making just his second start of the season, Shawn Chacon pitched seven scoreless innings for the Pirates.

Chacon yielded just three hits and issued a single walk while striking out 10. The 29-year-old righthander allowed only two runners as far as second base in his longest outing since last September.

Chacon made 16 appearances out of the bullpen this season before replacing the struggling Tony Armas as the No. 5 starter. In his only start before Thursday, a 9-5 victory at Cincinnati on Saturday, Chacon left after only 3 2/3 innings without a decision, allowing one run, three hits and five walks.

"It was one of those nights when you come out and everything's there and you feel like everything's working," Chacon said. "I was able to hit spots. I attacked them. That's something to build on."

Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux nearly matched his much younger counterpart frame for frame. The 41-year-old righthander allowed two runs - one earned - and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. Maddux struck out four and walked one.

"I was just pitching," Maddux said. "You just always try to keep it in front of the outfielder and I felt like I did that, and we got the big hits late. We scored late and that ended up being the most important thing."

Maddux, who entered the game 25-16 with seven complete games and a 2.62 ERA in 50 career starts against the Pirates, rebounded from a sub-par pair of outings in which he surrendered a combined 10 runs in 9 1/3 innings.

"That's a tough game to lose," Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy said. "That's a good club over there, and you're three outs away from winning a series from them."