GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: LA DODGERS (34-23) at SAN DIEGO (33-23)

Young, Schmidt brilliant as Padres win late

<h3>SAN DIEGO 1, LA DODGERS 0</h3>SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Marcus Giles and the San Diego Padresspoiled Jason Schmidt's promising return.

Giles drove in Russell Branyan with a single off reliever RudySeanez in the eighth inning to give the Padres a 1-0 win overthe Los Angeles Dodgers in the first of a three-game set onTuesday.

Branyan started the rally by reaching on a hit by pitch bySeanez (2-1) and stole second. Giles then lined a base hit upthe middle.

"(Seanez) threw me a sinker in and I was fortunate to keep itout of the air and keep it on a line," Giles said. "Russgetting that stolen base to get him on second was huge. Beatingthe Dodgers means a lot. I think it's obvious to everybody howmuch these games mean."

Schmidt, who had been on the disabled list since April 14 withshoulder bursitis, tossed six scoreless innings in his fourthstart for the Dodgers, allowing just one hit.

"I felt free and easy out there, putting the ball where I wantto and just throwing strikes," Schmidt said. "I was happy withthe way it went. Overall, it would've been better for all of isif we came out with a win."

The 34-year-old righthander showed some of the same form thatinspired Los Angeles to sign him to a three-year deal worth $48million in the offseason, walking three batters and striking outfive.

"It's the first time he's been out there in six weeks, and we'repleased with his performance," Dodgers manager Grady Littlesaid. "That's all I can say. We were pleased with everythingabout his game. It's just a shame we couldn't score a couple ofruns for him."

San Diego starter Chris Young had a solid outing of his own,going seven innings without allowing a run. The 6-foot-10righthander gave up three hits while walking four and strikingout five.

"You've got to tip your cap to both pitching performances,"Giles said. "(Young) was just doing what we're used to and(Schmidt) coming off the DL and putting up a pretty goodperformance."

In five starts at Petco Park this year, Young has allowed justtwo earned runs 34 1/3 innings, good for a 0.52 ERA.

"The most important thing is that we won the game," Young said."Physically, I feel good and like I'm where I need to be. Ithink my velocity is good, my ball had a lot of life to it, andmy arm strength is there. All in all, I'm happy with where I amand I just want to keep it going."

Scott Linebrink (2-1) pitched a perfect eighth and TrevorHoffman worked around a one-out single in the ninth to pick uphis 17th save and 499th of his career.

Adrian Gonzalez went hitless in four chances to snap a 10-gamehitting streak for San Diego, who have won 11 of 14.

"It was kind of cool tonight with the fans getting loud outthere," Branyan said. "We're not looking at the standings oranything, but we know these games against the Dodgers areimportant."

The Dodgers, who were limited to five hits, had won six ofeight.