Padres 3, Cardinals 0

SAN DIEGO (AP) _ Justin Germano wants to show he belongs with the San Diego Padres. <br/><br/>Germano allowed 3 hits in 7 innings for his first major league win in three years, leading the San Diego Padres

Sunday, May 13th 2007, 7:36 pm

By: News On 6

SAN DIEGO (AP) _ Justin Germano wants to show he belongs with the San Diego Padres.

Germano allowed 3 hits in 7 innings for his first major league win in three years, leading the San Diego Padres over the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 Sunday.

``I don't want to be the guy who goes up and down from the minors to the majors and back again,'' Germano said. ``I want to prove that I belong up here to stay.''

Germano (1-0), a sinkerballer brought up from AAA Portland on May 7, struck out 3 and walked none in his seventh major league start, his second this season. The 24-year-old right-hander's only other major league win came in his debut with the Padres, on May 22, 2004, at Philadelphia.

Last Tuesday at Atlanta, Germano pitched 6 innings and left with a 2-1 lead but the bullpen blew it in a 4-2 loss. Germano, who spent last year with Cincinnati, has a 2-3 major league record.

``He backed up a very good game in Atlanta with an even better one today,'' San Diego manager Bud Black said. ``He located his fastball with movement. He really had them off balance.''

Taking the turn of injured starter Clay Hensley, Germano retired his first 13 batters before Scott Rolen's single with one out in the fifth. He worked out of his only jam after pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick and Adam Kennedy had back-to-back singles with 2 outs in the 6th. Germano retired Chris Duncan on an inning-ending flyout.

``The biggest difference for me is I have a more aggressive attitude,'' Germano said. ``The other times up, I was a little timid, and that isn't how I pitched in the minor leagues.''

St. Louis was shut out for a major league high sixth time. The Cardinals were blanked for the fourth time in 10 games and the second time in the series _ St. Louis had 5 runs and 13 hits in the three games.

``He's one of those pitchers you hope to face when you come to the yard,'' Aaron Miles said. ``You've got to take your approach against him. Obviously, we didn't do that.''

Scott Linebrink and Trevor Hoffman finished the 3-hitter, with Hoffman pitching the 9th for his 492nd save, his 10th in 12 chances this year.

Anthony Reyes (0-6) allowed 3 runs, 5 hits and 3 walks in 5 innings. He has lost seven straight regular-season decisions dating to last season -- but did win the World Series opener against Detroit.

St. Louis has scored just 8 runs in Reyes' seven starts this season.

``The team isn't taking care of him well,'' Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. ``We've got to do a better job for Anthony. It's embarrassing.''

San Diego took a 2-0 lead in the 1st when Marcus Giles led off with a walk, Jose Cruz Jr. doubled, Brian Giles hit a run-scoring groundout and Adrian Gonzalez followed with an RBI single.

Reyes balked home a run in the 5th after Marcus Giles walked and Cruz singled him to 3rd.