Padres get lucky break

Phil Nevin and Brian Giles each hit solo home runs, but they weren’t the heroes. A controversial single by Jay Payton was followed by a Khalil Greene triple in the bottom of the eighth, proving to be the difference as the San Diego Padres beat the Montreal Expos 5-4 on Wednesday.

Brian Giles opened the eighth, the Padres down 4-2, with a single to center. Phil Nevin fought back from a 1-2 count to walk.

After a ground out moved both runners up, Jay Payton got an infield single that scored Giles, although replays show that Payton was out at first by a step.

A Ramon Hernandez ground out scored Kerry Robinson, running for Nevin, to tie the game. Then Khalil Greene came up and took an 0-1 fastball and drove it to the deepest part of the field for a run scoring triple to give the Padres a 5-4 lead.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 5th save of the season.

Nevin put the Padres on the board in the fourth with a solo shot, his team-tying 4th of the year. Giles followed with a solo shot of his own in the fifth, his 3rd of the year, that gave the Padres a 2-1 edge on the scoreboard.

Adam Eaton loaded the bases in the sixth inning when he hit a batter and Endy Chavez followed with a single to tie the game at 2-2. Scott Linebrink relieved Eaton with no outs and the bases still juiced. After getting a line out, Jamey Carroll, 4-for-5 on the night, drove in two with a double to make the score 4-2. Linebrink would get out of the inning without any more damage.

Eaton allowed a season high ten hits in five innings of work and was charged for all four runs against. Antonio Osuna (1-0) got the win.

Notes

For San Diego it was their third straight victory and puts their record at 13-9, winners of nine of their last twelve.

The Padres wrap up the four game series, thinking sweep, on Thursday.

Before Thursday’s game, at approximately 6:40, the Padres will hold a reenlistment ceremony, providing command recognition for enlisted members continuing their naval careers and sets an example for fellow shipmates. Traditionally, the reenlistee is first presented with an honorable discharge certificate for the tour of duty just completed. The reenlistee then stands in front of the reenlisting officer, both raising their right hands, with the reenlistee repeating the reenlistment oath as read to him and administered by the reenlisting officer.

Dave Winfield is expected to be on hand for the ceremony.