GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: SAN DIEGO (87-71) at MILWAUKEE (81-77)

Padres take advantage of five errors to hold wild card lead

<h3>SAN DIEGO 9, MILWAUKEE 5</h3>By Nick Berenz
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- In a critical matchup with divisionaland wild card implications, the San Diego Padres' bats andthe Milwaukee Brewers' gloves were the deciding factors.

Scott Hairston drove in three runs and Khalil Greene added twomore, and the Padres took advantage of five errors in a 9-5triumph over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.

With the victory, the Padres (88-71) maintained their one-gamewild card lead over the Philadelphia Phillies (87-72) and stayedwithin one game of the Arizona Diamondbacks (89-70) for firstplace in the National League West. Arizona beat Pittsburgh,8-0, earlier. Colorado (86-72) is 1 1/2 games behind in thewild card pending its outgame against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For a second straight game, Milwaukee (81-78) failed to takeadvantage of a loss by the National League CentralDivision-leading Chicago Cubs (83-76), remaining two games backwith three to play.


With Brewers manager Ned Yost serving a one-game suspension forhis role in the intentional beaning of St. Louis Cardinals firstbaseman Albert Pujols on Wednesday night, bench coach DaleSveum watched the Brewers commit a season-high error total, theteam's most since August 1, 1999.


In just his fourth career start, Padres starter Jack Casselhelped defeat fellow rookie Yovani Gallardo (9-5) by going 4 2/3innings, giving up two earned runs and notching a pair ofstrikeouts.


Joe Thatcher (2-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for hissecond career victory after notching his first on Tuesday.

After Gallardo struck out four of the first seven batters hefaced, it began to unravel in the third. The Padres led off theinning with three straight hits, including a sacrifice buntattempt from Cassel that hugged the line and stayed fair for hisfirst career hit.


Hairston drove a bases-loaded double into the left field cornerthat was misplayed by Geoff Jenkins, allowing all three runs toscore. With Hairston on third, Kevin Kouzmanoff's ground outto short brought in the fourth run of the inning. Gallardo tookthe mound having won four consecutive decisions, but was facingthe Padres for the first time in his young career. He went fiveinnings and gave up three earned runs and struck out seven.

In the seventh, the Padres were able to tack on four more runsas a result of the Brewers' fielding mishaps. Pinch hitterOscar Robles bunted a ball to third baseman Ryan Braun, whoattempted to get the lead runner at second. His throw sailedinto center field for his third error of the game and 26th ofthe season.


Rickie Weeks represented the majority of the Brewers' offensewith his third career multi-homer game and three RBI. Braunadded his 34th homerun of the season in the seventh.

 

Padres take advantage of five errors to hold wild card lead

<h3>SAN DIEGO 9, MILWAUKEE 5</h3>By Nick Berenz
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- In a critical matchup with divisional andwild card implications, the San Diego Padres' bats and theMilwaukee Brewers' gloves were the deciding factors.

Scott Hairston drove in three runs and Khalil Greene added twomore, and the Padres took advantage of five errors in a 9-5triumph over the Brewers on Thursday night.


With the victory, the Padres (88-71) maintained their one-gamewild card lead over the Philadelphia Phillies (87-72) and stayedwithin one game of the Arizona Diamondbacks (89-70) for firstplace in the National League West. Arizona beat Pittsburgh,8-0, earlier. Colorado (86-72) is 1 1/2 games behind in thewild card pending its outcome against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"This is as good a race as I can ever recall with so many teamsin the mix," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We knew this tripwasn't going to be easy, I feel very proud of these guys."

For a second straight game, Milwaukee (81-78) failed to takeadvantage of a loss by the National League CentralDivision-leading Chicago Cubs (83-76), remaining two games backwith three to play.


"It hurts a lot when the team we're trailing loses twice and wecouldn't take advantage of it," said Brewers bench coach DaleSveum who was filling in for manager Ned Yost.


Yost was serving a one-game suspension for his role in theintentional beaning of St. Louis Cardinals first baseman AlbertPujols on Wednesday night. Sveum had to watch the Brewerscommit a season-high five errors, the team's most since August1, 1999.


"I wasn't nervous or anything like that, I just had defensivelapses," said Brewers rookie Ryan Braun, who committed threeerrors on the night bringing his season total to 26.

In just his fourth career start, Padres starter Jack Casselhelped defeat fellow rookie Yovani Gallardo (9-5) by going 4 2/3innings, giving up two earned runs and notching a pair ofstrikeouts before being pulled with runners on first and secondin the fifth inning.


"In this tight of a race I was hoping to pitch out of it andgive myself a chance (for the victory)," Cassel said. "Iunderstood though and as long as we get the win, I'm playing forthe name on the front of the jersey, not the back."

Joe Thatcher (2-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for hissecond career victory after notching his first on Tuesday.

"Every day I stop and think how far I've come, but now that I'mhere I have to contribute," Thatcher said. "I know we have totake advantage this time of year."


After Gallardo struck out four of the first seven batters hefaced, it began to unravel in the third. The Padres led off theinning with three straight hits, including a sacrifice buntattempt from Cassel that hugged the line and stayed fair for hisfirst career hit.


"We needed this win and I really feel bad about how I pitched,"Gallardo said. "It seemed like in that inning (third) they hiteverything I threw, it was just one of those days."

Hairston drove a bases-loaded double into the left field cornerthat was misplayed by Geoff Jenkins, allowing all three runs to<div class="pre">score. With Hairston on third, Kevin Kouzmanoff's ground out</div>to short brought in the fourth run of the inning.


Gallardo took the mound having won four consecutive decisions,but was facing the Padres for the first time in his youngcareer. He went five innings and gave up three earned runs andstruck out seven.


"It doesn't get much better than that," Hairston said ofbreaking open a game in a pennant race. "We had some timelyhitting tonight, it's fun to be a part of."


In the seventh, the Padres were able to tack on four more runsas a result of the Brewers' fielding mishaps. Pinch hitterOscar Robles bunted a ball to third baseman Ryan Braun, whoattempted to get the lead runner at second. His throw sailedinto center field for his third error of the game and 26th ofthe season.


Rickie Weeks represented the majority of the Brewers' offensewith his third career multi-homer game and three RBI. Braunadded his 34th homerun of the season in the seventh.