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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 13, 2008

Peavy tough in return

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy started for the first time in nearly a month since straining his right elbow. Peavy (5-3) combined with three relievers on a five-hitter to beat the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-0.

SANDY HUFFAKER | Associated Press

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SAN DIEGO — San Diego's Jake Peavy made it look so easy, almost as if he had never been away.

Peavy, pitching for the first time in nearly a month since injuring his elbow, threw six solid innings and combined with three relievers on a five-hitter to lift the Padres to a 9-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday.

San Diego made life easier for Peavy by scoring five runs in the first inning.

"I've got a long way to go to be where I want to be," said Peavy. "But I was able to make some good pitches when I had to. I wasn't asked to grind it out because of the score. I was able to pitch to contact."

In his first start back in nearly a month, the reigning NL Cy Young winner looked as if he hadn't missed five starts.

"He gave us a great outing with shutout ball," said Adrian Gonzalez. "He's one of the big keys for us. Having him back out there was pretty awesome."

The Padres gave Peavy plenty of support, hitting consecutive home runs in the first — a three-run shot by Brian Giles and a solo homer by Gonzalez — off Hiroki Kuroda (3-6) en route to a 5-0 lead.

"I didn't have the velocity and I didn't have the rotation of the breaking ball," Kuroda said through an interpreter.

Justin Hampson, Brian Corey and Mike Adams each pitched one inning to complete the shutout.

Peavy (5-3) had been sidelined with a strained right elbow since he lost his last outing on May 14, an 8-5 decision at the Chicago Cubs.

Diamondbacks 5, Mets 4, 10 innings: Billy Wagner coughed up his third consecutive save chance, this time wasting a splendid pitching performance by Johan Santana and allowing Arizona to rally past host New York in 10 innings. Justin Upton doubled leading off the 10th against Aaron Heilman (0-3) and scored on Miguel Montero's sacrifice fly to help the Diamondbacks take two of three in the series. After Santana struck out 10 in seven shutout innings, Wagner squandered a two-run lead in the ninth.

Brewers 9, Astros 6: Ben Sheets struck out a season-high nine, Mike Cameron and Corey Hart homered for the second straight game and Milwaukee beat host Houston to take two of three in the series. Prince Fielder and Gabe Kapler also homered for the Brewers. Sheets (7-1) allowed seven hits and two walks.

Cubs 3, Braves 2, 11 innings: Jeff Ridgway hit pinch-hitter Reed Johnson with the bases loaded in the 11th inning and host Chicago beat reeling Atlanta. The Braves have lost six straight and fell to 7-24 on the road this season. They have lost their last 21 one-run games on the road since August, matching the longest such streak in major league history. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kansas City lost 21 straight one-run games on the road from 2000-01.

Pirates 7, Nationals 5: Ryan Doumit finished an outstanding series against the Nationals, hitting another home run in Pittsburgh's win over visiting Washington. In the three-game series, the catcher went 9-for-11 with four home runs, two doubles and seven RBIs to help the Pirates win two of three. Nate McLouth, Doug Mientkiewicz and Chris Gomez also each had two hits, and Tom Gorzelanny (5-5) won for the first time in four starts for the Pirates.

Giants 10, Rockies 7: Fred Lewis hit a three-run homer, Ray Durham picked up his 2,000th career hit and San Francisco avoided being swept at Colorado. Jonathan Sanchez (6-3) pitched five shaky innings for his fourth straight win. The left-hander gave up seven runs and a season-high nine hits. He finished with five strikeouts.

Phillies 3, Marlins 0: Jamie Moyer took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and Philadelphia scored two runs off a wild pitch on the way to avoiding a three-game sweep at Florida. Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins and Pedro Feliz all had two hits for the first-place Phillies, who moved three games ahead of the Marlins in the NL East. Moyer (7-3) allowed only two hits in eight innings, striking out three and walking one.

Reds 6, Cardinals 2: Brandon Phillips hit a three-run triple in the Reds' four-run seventh against visiting St. Louis. Cincinnati loaded the bases against relievers Mark Worrell (0-1) and Randy Flores with two outs in the seventh. Ken Griffey Jr. walked to force in the go-ahead run and Phillips followed with a drive down the right-field line.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Yankees 4, Athletics 1: Hideki Matsui hit a grand slam on his 34th birthday to help Andy Pettitte beat host Oakland and move into a tie for fourth place on the Yankees career wins list. Pettitte (6-5) shut down the A's and tied Ron Guidry with his 170th victory with New York. Pettitte allowed one run and five hits in a season-high eight innings.

Tigers 2, White Sox 1: Miguel Cabrera hit a game-ending solo homer in the ninth inning off Octavio Dotel (3-3) and host Detroit beat Chicago to complete a three-game sweep. Both starters — Detroit's Kenny Rogers and White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle — allowed one run in eight innings.

Red Sox 9, Orioles 2: Mike Lowell hit his second grand slam of the season, J.D. Drew hit a two-run shot and Boston kept rolling at home by beating Baltimore. The Red Sox are 18-3 in their last 21 games at Fenway Park. Their 28-7 home record is the best in the majors. Jon Lester (5-3) allowed two runs and seven hits over seven innings for Boston.

Indians 12, Twins 2: Ben Francisco and Jamey Carroll had four hits apiece to lead Cleveland over visiting Minnesota. The Indians had 18 hits, including homers by Shin-Soo Choo and Grady Sizemore, off Livan Hernandez (6-4) and four relievers. Cleveland's Aaron Laffey (4-3) allowed one run and six hits over six innings. The left-hander walked one and struck out four.

Royals 6, Rangers 5: Alex Gordon and Mike Aviles each hit a two-run homer and host Kansas City beat Texas to avoid a three-game sweep. German Duran and Ian Kinsler hit back-to-back homers in the second for the Rangers. Aviles hit his first career homer in the fourth to tie it at 4.