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Padres take aim at series split with Phillies

Apr 22, 2012 - 2:55 PM (Sports Network) - The San Diego Padres try to earn a split of their four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies as the team teams meet once again this afternoon.

The Phillies won the first two of this series to stretch their winning streak at Petco Park to 13 straight. However, the Padres came through with a 5-1 win last night to hand Philadelphia its first loss in San Diego since Aug. 16, 2008.

Cory Luebke tossed eight scoreless innings to outduel the Phils' Roy Halladay, scattering two hits and a pair of walks while striking out five as the Padres snapped a four-game slide.

Yonder Alonso drove in a run and scored, while Orlando Hudson smacked an RBI triple when San Diego blew the game open in the eighth.

"A good win like this off somebody like Doc (Halladay) maybe turns things around for us," Luebke said.

Halladay labored through seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits and four walks for the Phillies, who have scored two runs or less in nine of 15 games this season.

"He pitched good enough to win the game, he can't throw shutouts every time," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said of Halladay's outing.

Right-hander Joe Blanton looks to rebound this afternoon when he toes the rubber for the Phillies.

Blanton pitched seven innings of one-run ball to win his first start of the season on April 12, but struggled in a loss at the Giants five days later. He was charged with four runs on 11 hits over five innings, though he did not walk a batter. Still, he felt to 1-2 with a 4.26 earned run average in three overall appearances this season.

The 31-year-old Blanton is 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA in five career starts versus the Padres.

The Padres turn to 24-year-old Anthony Bass, who makes his third start after beginning the season in the bullpen.

Bass got a no-decision in his first start on April 12 after lasting only 4 1/3 innings and giving up one run. He then got off to a quick start on Tuesday in Colorado, recording eight outs before giving up his first hit, but was eventually tagged for three runs on four hits and three walks over five innings while suffering a 5-3 loss.

The right-hander, who has 12 strikeouts in his two starts, will make his first career start against the Phillies.

Philadelphia has still won 12 of 14 and 19 of its past 23 encounters versus San Diego overall.