Padres Make Up Ground In NL West

If the San Diego Padres are going to make a run at the NL West, Brian Giles apparently wants to lead the charge. <br/><br/>Giles hit two home runs for the second consecutive day, backing another strong

Monday, August 13th 2007, 7:39 am

By: News On 6

If the San Diego Padres are going to make a run at the NL West, Brian Giles apparently wants to lead the charge.

Giles hit two home runs for the second consecutive day, backing another strong outing from Jake Peavy, and the Padres routed the lowly Cincinnati Reds 10-4 on Sunday at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.

``I've hit the ball like that before,'' said Giles, who also homered on Friday and had five of his seven homers this season during the three-game stretch. ``This park is a little more conducive to my power.''

It's the third time in his career Giles has homered in three consecutive games.

``What'd he do, go from two to seven?'' Reds manager Pete Mackanin said. ``You've got to tip your cap to him.''

Not to mention the rest of the Padres' lineup.

Khalil Greene had his fourth four-hit game of the season _ three of them doubles _ and drove in three runs. Morgan Ensberg also added a pair of doubles for the Padres, who set a franchise record with nine doubles and 12 extra-base hits.

The Padres climbed within three games of Arizona in the division, after the Diamondbacks blew a ninth-inning lead in a 7-6 loss to the Washington Nationals. San Diego leads the Philadelphia Phillies by a game in the wild-card standings.

Peavy (13-5) allowed seven hits and four runs with one walk and five strikeouts while improving to 7-0 on the road this season, the best road record in the majors. The right-hander has won nine consecutive road decisions dating to a 4-0 loss at San Francisco on Sept. 8, 2006.

``I didn't have great stuff, but I was able to battle through it,'' said Peavy, who is 5-0 in eight starts against the Reds.

In other NL games, it was Houston 6, Milwaukee 4; Colorado 6, the Chicago Cubs 3; St. Louis 12, the Los Angeles Dodgers 2; the New York Mets 10, Florida 4; Philadelphia 5, Atlanta 3; and Pittsburgh 5, San Francisco 0.

The Padres pounded right-hander Bronson Arroyo (5-13) for nine hits and five runs as the Reds lost for the third time in four games.

Giles, who also walked three times, hit Arroyo's fourth pitch of the game into the right field seats, his first career leadoff homer. He followed up with a two-out solo shot to right-center in the fourth that extended San Diego's lead to 5-0.

``I don't feel totally locked in, but I've been able to get the ball up and on the barrel,'' said Giles, who early in his career routinely hit 30 homers in a season. ``Like I said, they might not be home runs in most places, but it's a good time to hit them _ in this place.''

His two-homer game was the 18th of his career and gave Giles 26 career home runs against the Reds, more than any other opponent.

Greene had a two-run single in the third and a run-scoring double in the seventh _ giving him six RBIs in the series _ and Peavy drove in a run in the fourth with the first sacrifice fly of his career.

``Factor in the Midwest humidity, and this was a good win on the road,'' said San Diego manager Bud Black, referring to a game-time temperature in the 90s. ``A good win all the way around.''

Nationals 7, Diamondbacks 6

At Phoenix, Jesus Flores hit a tying homer in the ninth and Felipe Lopez drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly off Jose Valverde (1-4) as the Nationals rallied from a five-run deficit to beat Arizona for the first time in seven meetings this year.

Jon Rauch (8-2) pitched one inning of relief to earn the win, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout. Chad Cordero pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 34 chances.

Astros 6, Brewers 4

At Houston, Craig Biggio homered and Lance Berkman hit a tiebreaking shot off Carlos Villaneuva (6-3) in the ninth to start a four-run rally for the Astros.

Mark McLemore (2-0) pitched a perfect eighth for the win. J.J. Hardy hit a two-run homer for the Brewers in the ninth off Trever Miller, but Brad Lidge got the final out for his eighth save in 13 chances.

Rockies 6, Cubs 3

At Denver, Troy Tulowitzki homered and later hit a go-ahead two-run double against Kerry Wood (0-1) to lead the Rockies.

Matt Herges (1-0) worked 2 2-3 scoreless innings of relief for the Rockies, who split the four-game series with the Cubs. Manny Corpas pitched the ninth for his ninth save.

Cardinals 12, Dodgers 2

At St. Louis, Anthony Reyes (2-10) worked six innings and got his first career hit and RBI, and Ryan Ludwick homered and drove in four runs for the surging Cardinals.

Brendan Ryan hit a two-run homer after being recalled, and Aaron Miles and David Eckstein had three hits apiece as St. Louis knocked out Mark Hendrickson (4-7) in the third.

Mets 10, Marlins 4

At New York, Moises Alou homered twice, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado also connected, and Jorge Sosa (8-6) pitched two scoreless innings for the first-place Mets.

Alou, who had three hits, erased a 1-0 deficit in the second with a three-run shot off Rick Vandenhurk. In the sixth, Alou lined his second home run to left off Lee Gardner (3-3).

Phillies 5, Braves 3

At Philadelphia, Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer to back another solid outing from Jamie Moyer (11-8), who won his fourth straight decision.

Brett Myers worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save in nine chances.

Buddy Carlyle (7-4) limited the Phillies to one run over the first four innings, but didn't get through the fifth as Philadelphia scored five times.

Pirates 5, Giants 0

At San Francisco, Tom Gorzelanny (11-6) allowed five hits in his first career shutout, and the Pirates finished off their first road sweep since early April.

Josh Phelps hit a two-run homer off Barry Zito (8-11) and a two-run triple for the Pirates, who won their sixth straight game at San Francisco. The Giants have lost eight of 10.