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Six-run third propels Padres over Diamondbacks

Jul 29, 2008 - 5:52 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Greg Maddux picked up his first victory in over two months and the San Diego Padres provided plenty of run support in their 8-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

Maddux (4-8), who was stuck on career win No. 350 since May 10, tossed five-plus effective innings, allowing four runs as he snapped a 14-game winless stretch - the longest of his 23-year career.

The 42-year-old righthander needs three more wins to tie Roger Clemens for eighth on the all-time list. He did, however, reach another lofty milestone. Maddux moved past Hall of Famer Phil Niekro and took sole possession of 10th place on baseball's career strikeout list in the third by recording his 3,343rd strikeout in the third against Conor Jackson.

"They scored plenty of runs for me," Maddux said. "It was nice to see the guys hit and it was nice to finally win. I threw OK. I was lucky to be on the mound on a day when we scored eight runs."

The four-time Cy Young Award winner exited to a standing ovation and tipped his hat to the home crowd, acknowledging that he could be dealt before Thursday's trade deadline.

"I don't know what's going to happen in the next few days," Maddux said. "I just wanted everyone here to know I appreciate them. I love playing here, but I want to do what's best for the organization."

Three relievers combined to hold Arizona to one run before Heath Bell escaped a bases-loaded jam to toss a scoreless eighth.

Bryan Corey allowed an RBI-double to Conor Jackson in the ninth, but all-time saves leader, Trevor Hoffman, came on to retire the next two batters and earn his 22nd save and the 546th of his career.

Nick Hundley's three-run shot was the big blow as the Padres erased a 3-2 deficit and scored six runs in the third against Arizona starter Micah Owings to stake Maddux with an 8-3 lead.

"Those are great when you keep applying the pressure," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Guys have good at-bats and they make a mistake and we take advantage of it. Two-out lightning."

Kevin Kouzmanoff added a two-run single in the frame as the Padres knocked Owings, who fell to 0-7 in his last 12 starts, out of the contest.

"In the second inning and third I had two outs, and it's real frustrating," Owings said. "I'm disappointed, I let the team down. It's not the end of the world, but it's only going to make me stronger."

Owings (6-9) yielded eight runs on six hits over three innings. The 25-year-old righthander suffered a loss to a National League West Division team for the first time this season, having gone 5-0 with a 2.87 ERA in those outings. He struck out two batters and walked two.

"We really had good at-bats all night, but we just gave up too many runs early in the game," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "(Owings), just didn't have good command where he was throwing the ball with any of his pitches, it didn't seem like."

Stephen Drew lifted a sacrifice fly and Chris Young had a two-run homer for the Diamondbacks, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.