After pulling within one half-game of the NL West lead

2007-07-31

After pulling within one half-game of the NL West lead, the Padres look to reclaim sole possession of first place when they open a three-game series against the Diamondbacks at Petco Park on Tuesday.

Ironically, on a day when the Arizona Diamondbacks had their season high-tying win streak snapped with their most lopsided defeat of the year, the struggling San Diego Padres capitalized with their best offensive showing of the season.

San Diego (56-48) scored 11 runs in the first inning on Sunday, and held off Houston 18-11. The Padres had scored more than five runs only once in 16 games since the All-Star break, but erupted for their highest run total since an 18-2 win over Florida on Aug. 23, 2002.

Their 19 hits were the team's most since having 19 in a 15-12 loss to Atlanta on July 14, 2006.

Despite the win, the Padres still are tied for last in the majors with a .244 team batting average and are near the bottom with 444 runs scored. San Diego's third victory in 10 games, though, helped it close the gap on the division co-leading Diamondbacks (58-49) and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

If the Dodgers lose to San Francisco on Tuesday, the Padres will have the sole lead atop the division -- not just by percentage points -- for the first time since July 12 with a victory over the Diamondbacks.

Arizona used an eight-game winning streak to move atop the West, but had its run snapped with a 14-0 defeat to Atlanta on Sunday. It was the Diamondbacks' largest margin of defeat since an 18-4 loss to the New York Mets on Aug. 24, 2005.

Arizona hopes to get back on track with its ace on the mound as Brandon Webb (9-8, 3.23 ERA) looks to win back-to-back starts for the first time since a three-start win streak May 26-June 6. Despite struggling a bit with his command and issuing three walks on Wednesday, the right-hander held Florida to six hits in seven innings of a 7-0 victory - his first win in five July starts.

In 17 career starts against the Padres, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is 3-6 with a 3.72 ERA. He pitched well in two starts against them in April, going eight innings in both without receiving a decision, but lost to them on July 15 as he allowed a season-high 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 4-0 defeat.

Webb lost to Justin Germano (6-5, 4.20) in that game, and will be facing him again on Tuesday. Germano held Arizona to four hits in 6 1-3 innings, posting his only victory in his last seven outings.

On Wednesday, the right-hander gave up six runs in five innings of a 10-2 defeat at Colorado. Germano fell to 1-5 with a 6.18 ERA after going 5-0 with a 2.36 ERA in his first seven starts this year.

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