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Peavy aims to help Padres extend win streak

Apr 11, 2009 - 7:02 AM By Jeff Mezydlo Stats Senior Writer

San Francisco (2-2) at San Diego (3-2) 10:05 p.m. EDT

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Jake Peavy received little run support in his start on opening day. Judging by the way the San Diego Padres swung the bats in their last contest, that might change in his next appearance.

The right-hander looks to help the Padres to their third consecutive victory Saturday night when they continue their three-game set against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park.

Peavy (0-1, 3.86 ERA) allowed four runs - three earned - and seven hits while striking out eight in seven innings of a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. Despite the lack of support, Peavy was upset after allowing three runs in the first three innings.

"I just have to be better," Peavy said. "I wasn't extremely disappointed with the way I threw the ball. It just wasn't good enough."

Though that effort wasn't good enough to win, another like it could be if San Diego has a similar offensive night like it did in Friday's 7-3 series-opening win over its NL West rivals in a game that featured a rare 51-minute rain delay.

Peavy is 11-8 with a 3.31 ERA in 23 starts against San Francisco, but has lost his last two against them.

"He's just another pitcher. Peavy's just his name," Saturday's starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez told the Giants official Web site about the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner. "We've got pretty good hitters and I think we can get him."

The Giants were held in check for the most part Friday, while Scott Hairston hit a three-run homer and Brian Giles drove in two to help the Padres move over .500 for the first time since they were 8-7 last April 16.

Hairston has hit 10 of his 42 career homers versus the Giants.

San Diego was 63-99 last season and its 637 runs were the fewest in the majors.

"The NL West has to realize that the Padres, we might not be the biggest names, or you might not know who we are, but we came to play and we're going to battle you all nine innings, every single day," new closer Heath Bell said.

Giles is batting .368 (14-for-38) with four doubles and six RBI during his current 10-game hitting streak against San Francisco, but is 1-for-10 against Sanchez.

Sanchez makes his first start of 2009 for the Giants after going 9-12 with a 5.01 ERA in 29 starts a year ago.

The left-hander, who pitched for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, appears healed after burning the tip of his left index finger while cooking rice and beans late last month.

"It's not tender any more," said Sanchez, who is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts against San Diego.

Emmanuel Burriss had two hits while Randy Winn and Bengie Molina each drove in a run Friday for the Giants, who scored only three more runs than the Padres last season.

Fred Lewis had a single and is 6-for-12 with four runs scored for San Francisco. Molina, meanwhile, is hitting .375 (6-for-16) with six RBI, but is 1-for-12 versus Peavy.