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Maddux, Giles power Padres past Giants

Aug 4, 2008 - 12:09 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Greg Maddux tossed six strong innings and added an RBI single to help the San Diego Padres avoid a three-game sweep with a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.

Brian Giles had two hits, scored a run and drove in another and Kevin Kouzmanoff belted a solo shot to give the Padres their first victory in five games against the Giants at Petco Park this season.

Maddux (5-8) allowed just one run on two hits en route to career victory No. 352. After not picking up a win in a career-long 14 straight outings from May 10 to July 23, the 42-year-old four-time Cy Young Award winner has notched the victory in two consecutive starts, and trails Roger Clemens by two wins for the eighth spot on the all-time list.

"It was nice, the bullpen pitched really good," Maddux said. "We had a chance to add on and we did, so that was nice to see. You've got to play your way out of things sometimes."

He struck out one, did not issue a walk and retired the final 10 batters he faced.

"(Maddux) threw well," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It was like so many other games he's pitched this year: very well-pitched. He continued to pitch well and we got him some runs and picked him up."

Reliever Mike Adams contributed a scoreless seventh and Heath Bell worked around a single and walk in the eighth to bridge the gap to Trevor Hoffman.

The all-time saves leader, Hoffman allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, but retired the next three batters in order to convert his 23rd save in 26 opportunities this season and 547th career.

Giles doubled to lead off the sixth against San Francisco starter Kevin Correia and scored on a sacrifice by Nick Hundley that gave San Diego a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish.

"We found a way to get the big hit before they did," Giles said. "Our pitching held on at the end. (Maddux) has pitched well enough to win those games. It was nice to get him a one-run lead and then be able to add on to secure that victory for him."

The Padres tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings, the first on an RBI single by Giles and the second on Kouzmanoff's blast - his 15th of the season - as San Diego extended its lead to 4-1.

Correia (2-6) lasted 6 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on three hits. The 27-year-old right-hander struck out three and walked four.

"Kevin pitched a pretty good ballgame there," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He gave us a chance to win. We just had a real, real tough time against Maddux. He's had our number, and today he did again. We just couldn't do much, we got shut down."

After the Giants took an early 1-0 lead on Randy Winn's single in the first, Maddux drove an opposite field single in the second that brought home Hundley to even the score at 1-1.

"It's nice to help out for a change," Maddux said. "It was one of those things where sometimes it just hits your bat."