Peavy Fans 9 Straight; Bonds Goes Deep

Jake Peavy came within a check swing of matching Tom Terrific and Barry Bonds took another step toward catching Hammerin' Hank. <br/><br/>Peavy struck out nine consecutive hitters against Arizona _

Thursday, April 26th 2007, 7:51 am

By: News On 6

Jake Peavy came within a check swing of matching Tom Terrific and Barry Bonds took another step toward catching Hammerin' Hank.

Peavy struck out nine consecutive hitters against Arizona _ one short of Tom Seaver's major league record _ and 16 in seven innings, but Stephen Drew hit a two-out, two-run homer against Trevor Hoffman to beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 Wednesday night.

Bonds' 741st career homer, a three-run shot, came in the first inning and sent San Francisco on its way to a 6-4 win at Los Angeles, the Giants' seventh straight victory. Bonds is 14 home runs away from matching Hank Aaron's record.

In Phoenix, Peavy, the 25-year-old Alabaman, struck out the side in the second, third and fourth innings. The first eight were swinging as the Diamondbacks flailed helplessly at an assortment of darting fastballs and diving breaking pitches.

Peavy's strikeout streak ended when he walked Eric Byrnes on a 3-2 pitch. With a 2-2 count, Byrnes fouled off a pair of pitches, then checked his swing. First-base umpire Jeff Kellogg ruled he didn't go around, and Byrnes then took ball four outside.

``It was close,'' Kellogg said. ``He had a lot of leg movement, but the bat didn't get around.''

Peavy had singled and run the bases in the top of the fifth. When he went back to the mound, Peavy didn't realize he was so close to tying Seaver.

``Now that I do, I wish I had that pitch back,'' he said, referring to ball four to Byrnes. ``I didn't know it was any kind of record.''

Peavy fell four short of the strikeout record for a nine-inning game _ 20 shared by Roger Clemens (twice) and Kerry Wood.

``I just felt good,'' Peavy said. ``I had a good breaking ball, lively fastball. Threw a couple of changeups, cutters, sliders _ a little bit of everything.''

Padres manager Bud Black decided seven scoreless, two-hit innings and 117 pitches were enough for Peavy. Black called on Scott Linebrink, who gave up a leadoff homer in the eighth to pinch-hitter Miguel Montero.

Hoffman (1-1) started the ninth, walked Chad Tracy with one out, then allowed Drew's homer on a 3-1 changeup.

Drew had spoiled Peavy's night and snapped Arizona's five-game losing streak. Tony Pena (2-1) earned the victory with a scoreless ninth inning.

``I put a good swing on it,'' Drew said. ``It's a good feeling to lift the team when we're kind of struggling like this. Gosh, we keep battling.''

Hoffman, baseball's all-time saves leader, blew a save for the first time in five chances.

``That usually happens when you give good hitters pitches like that,'' Hoffman said. ``Unfortunately, that's going to be talked about and not the great pitching performances by both Jake Peavy and Brandon Webb.''

Webb, the Cy Young winner, allowed two runs on six hits in eight innings with six strikeouts.

In Los Angeles, San Francisco ran its winning streak to its longest since June 2004.

``We're putting some runs on the board and that's huge for us,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. ``A lot of good things are happening.''

Bonds has homered in three of his last four games. He sent a 1-1 pitch from Randy Wolf (3-2) into right-center field.

``I think he got it off the end of the bat,'' Wolf said. ``When he hit it, I really didn't think it was going to be a home run. I've given up quite a few to know what they sound like, but he's a guy with kind of superhuman power and he doesn't always need to hit it perfectly.''

Bonds went 2-for-4 with two strikeouts before being replaced by pinch-runner Dave Roberts in the eighth. Bonds brushed off reporters after the game.

``It's an exciting time and with men on base, he's just so dangerous,'' Bochy said about Bonds. ``I enjoy watching him.''

Noah Lowry (2-2) gave up four runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings, striking out four and walking five. Armando Benitez pitched the ninth for his sixth save in as many chances.

Rockies 11, Mets 5

At New York, Willy Taveras had five of Colorado's season-high 20 hits and the Rockies snapped out of an offensive drought.

Todd Helton had four hits and three RBIs, and John Mabry added a three-run homer for the Rockies, who opened a 9-0 lead by the fifth.

Josh Fogg (1-1) retired his first nine batters. Mike Pelfrey (0-2) allowed six runs and eight hits in three innings.

Cubs 9, Brewers 3

Derrek Lee and Cliff Floyd each got four hits and Chicago stopped a three-game losing streak, improving to 4-9 at Wrigley Field.

After a 71-minute rain delay on a 44-degree afternoon, Brewers ace Ben Sheets pitched three scoreless innings before leaving with a strained right groin. Chicago took a 5-0 lead in fourth off Elmer Dessens (1-1).

Ted Lilly (2-2) allowed two runs _ one earned _ six hits in seven innings, but all the news was not good for Chicago. Pitcher Mark Prior had shoulder surgery is out for the season.

Pirates 4, Astros 3, 16 innings

Adam LaRoche grounded a winning single into left field and Pittsburgh rallied at home after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth to hand Houston its fifth consecutive loss.

John Wasdin (1-1), the eighth Pirates pitcher, won it with two scoreless relief innings. Brian Moehler (0-1) took the loss as Houston outhit the Pirates 16-10 but stranded 18 runners.

Pirates closer Salomon Torres blew a save for the third time in his last five attempts.

Marlins 4, Braves 3

At Miami, Miguel Olivo scored on a passed ball to cap a four-run rally for Florida in the ninth inning against Atlanta's Tim Hudson and Bob Wickman.

Hudson had a career-high 12 strikeouts and took a six-hit shutout into the ninth, but gave up three singles to load the bases starting the inning. Wickman (1-1) came on and allowed a double by Olivo and a single by Alfred Amezaga to tie the game.

Catcher Brian McCann let Wickman's low 1-1 pitch to Dan Uggla get past him, and Olivo scored without a play. Henry Owens (1-0) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for Florida.

Phillies 9, Nationals 3

Jon Lieber limited the visiting Nationals to two runs in six innings, Chase Utley was 5-for-5 with three RBIs, and Philadelphia won its fifth straight.

Jimmy Rollins hit his NL-leading eighth homer and Ryan Howard added a two-run shot for the Phillies.

Lieber (1-0) gave up five hits, striking out five in his second start since moving back into the rotation.

John Patterson (0-4) gave up six runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Cardinals 5, Reds 2

At St. Louis, Albert Pujols hit a two-run, tie-breaking double to spark a four-run eighth inning and the Cardinals won for just the second time in nine home games.

Braden Looper and three relievers combined on a five-hitter as the Reds wasted another strong start by Bronson Arroyo.

Randy Flores (1-0) got the win and Jason Isringhausen got the last out for his fifth save.

Kirk Saarloos (0-2) allowed two hits and two walks to start the eighth. Josh Hamilton hit his sixth homer for the Reds.