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

NL: SAN DIEGO at MILWAUKEE

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SAN DIEGO (9) AT MILWAUKEE (5) - EVENT LOG
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San Diego Starting Lineups -- B Giles RF, S Hairston LF, K Kouzmanoff 3B,
A Gonzalez 1B, K Greene SS, J Bard C, G Blum 2B, B Clark CF, J Cassel RHP.

Milwaukee Starting Lineups -- R Weeks 2B, J Hardy SS, R Braun 3B, P Fielder 1B,
C Hart RF, G Jenkins LF, B Hall CF, D Miller C, Y Gallardo RHP.

Umpires -- Brian Runge (HP), John Hirschbeck (1B), Bruce Froemming (2B), Mark Wegner (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


SAN DIEGO 1ST: B Giles struck out swinging. S Hairston flied out to
center. K Kouzmanoff struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
SAN DIEGO 0, MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 1ST: R Weeks grounded out to shortstop. J Hardy grounded out to
pitcher. R Braun flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 0,
MILWAUKEE 0.

SAN DIEGO 2ND: A Gonzalez struck out swinging. K Greene safe at first on
throwing error by third baseman R Braun, K Greene to second on throwing error
by third baseman R Braun. J Bard struck out swinging. G Blum grounded out to
pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 2 Errors) SAN DIEGO 0, MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 2ND: P Fielder doubled to deep left. C Hart flied out to right.
G Jenkins grounded out to second, P Fielder to third. B Hall struck out
looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 0, MILWAUKEE 0.

SAN DIEGO 3RD: B Clark singled to center. J Cassel reached on bunt single
to first, B Clark to second. B Giles singled to right, B Clark to third,
J Cassel to second. S Hairston doubled to left, B Clark and J Cassel scored,
B Giles to third, B Giles scored, S Hairston to third on error by left fielder
G Jenkins. K Kouzmanoff grounded out to shortstop, S Hairston scored. A Gonzalez
struck out swinging. K Greene struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error)
SAN DIEGO 4, MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 3RD: D Miller flied out to center. Y Gallardo grounded out to
third. R Weeks homered to left. J Hardy singled to center. J Hardy to second
on wild pitch by J Cassel. R Braun lined out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
SAN DIEGO 4, MILWAUKEE 1.

SAN DIEGO 4TH: J Bard safe at first on error by first baseman P Fielder.
G Blum singled to right, J Bard to second. B Clark walked, J Bard to third,
G Blum to second. J Cassel grounded into double play, shortstop to second to
first, J Bard scored, B Clark out at second, G Blum to third. B Giles struck
out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) SAN DIEGO 5, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 4TH: P Fielder grounded out to second. C Hart flied out to
center. G Jenkins grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
SAN DIEGO 5, MILWAUKEE 1.

SAN DIEGO 5TH: S Hairston grounded out to shortstop. K Kouzmanoff flied
out to left. A Gonzalez flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
SAN DIEGO 5, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 5TH: B Hall struck out swinging. D Miller hit by pitch. G Gross
hit for Y Gallardo. G Gross walked, D Miller to second. R Weeks popped out to
second. J Hardy singled to left, D Miller scored, G Gross to second.
C Meredith relieved J Cassel. R Braun hit by pitch, G Gross to third, J Hardy to
second. J Thatcher relieved C Meredith. P Fielder grounded out to shortstop.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 5, MILWAUKEE 2.

SAN DIEGO 6TH: S McClung relieved Y Gallardo. K Greene flied out to center.
J Bard struck out looking. G Blum grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 5, MILWAUKEE 2.

MILWAUKEE 6TH: C Hart flied out to right. G Jenkins flied out to right.
B Hall flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 5, MILWAUKEE 2.

SAN DIEGO 7TH: B Clark walked. O Robles hit for J Thatcher. O Robles
grounded into fielder's choice to third, B Clark safe at second on throwing
error by third baseman R Braun. R King relieved S McClung. B Giles reached on
infield single to shortstop, B Clark to third, O Robles to second. C Spurling
relieved R King. T Gwynn Jr in center field. S Hairston reached on infield
single to third, B Clark scored, O Robles to third, B Giles to second.
K Kouzmanoff grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, O Robles out at home,
B Giles to third, S Hairston to second. A Gonzalez hit sacrifice fly to center,
B Giles scored, S Hairston to third, K Kouzmanoff to second. K Greene singled
to left, S Hairston and K Kouzmanoff scored. J Bard flied out to left.
(4 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) SAN DIEGO 9, MILWAUKEE 2.

MILWAUKEE 7TH: D Brocail relieved J Thatcher. D Miller popped out to first.
T Gwynn Jr safe at first on error by third baseman K Kouzmanoff. T Gwynn Jr
to second on wild pitch by D Brocail. R Weeks homered to center, T Gwynn Jr
scored. J Hardy grounded out to shortstop. R Braun homered to left.
J Hampson relieved D Brocail. P Fielder struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 2 Hits,
1 Error) SAN DIEGO 9, MILWAUKEE 5.

SAN DIEGO 8TH: S Linebrink relieved C Spurling. G Blum singled to left.
B Clark bunted into fielder's choice to pitcher, G Blum out at second. T Sledge
hit for J Hampson. B Clark caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop.
T Sledge struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 9, MILWAUKEE 5.

MILWAUKEE 8TH: H Bell relieved J Hampson. C Hart flied out to center.
G Jenkins struck out swinging. J Dillon hit for S Linebrink. J Dillon popped out
to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 9, MILWAUKEE 5.

SAN DIEGO 9TH: F Cordero relieved S Linebrink. B Giles lined out to
shortstop. S Hairston flied out to center. K Kouzmanoff struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 9, MILWAUKEE 5.

MILWAUKEE 9TH: C Counsell hit for D Miller. C Counsell fouled out to third.
T Gwynn Jr lined out to first. R Weeks grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) SAN DIEGO 9, MILWAUKEE 5.</div>

 

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.