Padres sweep Pirates to maintain lead in the NL West
The San Diego Padres continued their journey to win their first division title since 2006 by cruising to a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday night.
Padres starting pitcher Jon Garland earned his second win of the month and 11th of the season after pitching six innings, giving up only one hit, walking four and striking out five. It was the first time since playing the St. Louis Cardinals on 25 May that Garland did not allow a run to score.
Relievers Luke Gregerson and Joe Thatcher kept the shutout going by pitching the seventh and eighth innings striking out one and only giving up a pair of singles. Closer Heath Bell pitched the ninth, striking out two to earn his 34th save of the season.
The offense for the Padres was provided by the newest members of the team, Miguel Tejada and Ryan Ludwick.
John Garland started off the third innings with a single. He advanced to second off a sacrifice hit by Jerry Hairston, Jr. Miguel Tejada followed Hairston up with a double to left field that scored Garland and gave the Padres a 1-0 lead.
Later in the sixth inning, Ryan Ludwick hit a home run deep over the left-centerfield wall that scored Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez had gotten on base after Argensis Diaz committed a throwing error.
Zach Duke pitched six innings for the Pirates giving up six hits and three runs (two earned) while walking three and striking out two for his 11th loss of the season. Relievers Chris Resop and Joel Hanrahan each pitched an inning, striking out two apiece.
With the win the Padres swept the Pirates in the three-game series at home. Friday they start a 10-day road trip by traveling up the coast to San Francisco for a weekend series with the Giants before moving on to Chicago for a four-game series with the Cubs. The trip ends with a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers before returning home to start a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The win over the Padres was the fourth victory in a row for San Diego as they protected their two and a half game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. Clayton Richard is scheduled to start for San Diego on Friday against Jonathan Sanchez of the Giants. Sanchez has promised that the Giants will sweep the series with the Padres.
San Diego leads the season series with the Giants, 7-1.
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