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Baek, Gonzalez Lead Padres Over D-Backs

POSTED: 8:02 am EDT July 5, 2008

(Sports Network) - Cha Seung Baek allowed just two hits over six shutout innings, as the San Diego Padres dispatched the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-1, in the opener of a three-game set.

Baek (2-3) carried a no-hitter into the sixth while striking out seven and walking one for the Padres, who won for just the second time in their last 12 games. Kevin Kouzmanoff went 2-for-5 with a run batted in, while Adrian Gonzalez picked up his 69th RBI of the season.

"The last couple of games I didn't throw an inside pitch," Baek said. "I threw more inside pitches today and the hitters get uncomfortable and throw outside and it worked great today."

Chad Tracy drove in the only run for the Diamondbacks, who have lost three of their last four. Dan Haren (8-5) held the Padres to two runs on seven hits in seven innings -- fanning seven while walking just one -- but took the loss.

"We knew what (Baek) was going to try to do to us," said Arizona manager Bob Melvin, "He throws a lot of sliders, especially in off counts, away, he was extending away pretty good when we were swinging and he was throwing it on the plate when we were taking."

Haren and Baek matched each other through five innings, but San Diego finally pushed a pair of runs across in the sixth. Jody Gerut led off with a single, then headed to third when Edgar Gonzalez singled and advanced to second on the throw. Gerut came in to score on Brian Giles' groundout, and Adrian Gonzalez knocked in his brother with a sacrifice fly.

After a first inning walk, Baek retired 15 straight before Stephen Drew finally picked up Arizona's first hit, lining a double to the gap in right- center with two outs in the sixth. Justin Upton followed with a single to left, but Chase Headley fired home to nail Drew at the plate and keep the D- Backs off the board.

With Mike Adams on in relief of Baek, Arizona's offense finally came to life in the seventh. Orlando Hudson led off with a double, and after he moved to third on a fly ball, he came in to score on Tracy's single to left. An error by Headley allowed Tracy to end up on second, but Heath Bell came out of the bullpen and preserved the one-run edge.

Kouzmanoff's RBI single in the eighth extended the lead to 3-1, and the Padres tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the ninth. Leo Rosales started the inning with walks to Nick Hundley and pinch-hitter Tony Clark, then Gerut singled to load the bases. Edgar Gonzalez plated a run with a sac fly, and Paul McAnulty added a run-scoring single.

Bryan Corey worked a perfect home ninth to finish off the win.

Game Notes

Before the game, the D-Backs made several roster moves to shake up their bench, recalling infielders Emilio Bonifacio and Alex Romero from Triple-A Tucson, optioning pitcher Connor Robertson to Tucson and designating outfielder Jeff Salazar for assignment...D-Backs pitcher Micah Owings recorded the final two outs in the ninth in his first relief appearance of the season. Owings pitched in relief twice in 2007...Hundley made his big league debut for the Padres and picked up his first career hit.

MLB Headlines

MLB
Alex Rios hit a pair of home runs and Roy Halladay threw seven effective innings, as the Toronto Blue Jays toppled Tampa Bay, 6-4, in the first of three games with the Rays. Halladay (18-9) gave up three runs -- one earned -- on seven hits, walked none and struck out seven to pick up the win. The victory was Toronto's sixth straight, marking the first time the club has won that many in a row since May 4-10, 2004. Rios finished with three runs batted in, while Lyle Overbay doubled and drove in two for the Jays. Andy Sonnanstine (13-7) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in six frames. He had won his last three decisions. Jason Bartlett went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI for Tampa Bay, which saw its lead in the AL East over Boston drop to 2 1/2 games. The Red Sox beat Texas, 8-1, later Friday.


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