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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN DIEGO (AP) – Ryan Klesko doesn't always have to hit home
runs for the San Diego Padres to win.
|  | | Padres rookie Wascar Serrano won his second straight start. |
And the Padres don't have to wallow in last place in the NL West
just because most fans thought they would.
With Klesko again leading the way, San Diego, the consensus
preseason pick to again finish last in the division, beat Arizona
3-1 Thursday to break out of a tie with the Diamondbacks and take
sole possession of the NL West lead.
Klesko saw his 10-game hitting streak end, but showed his
versatility by walking three times, stealing a career-high three
bases and scoring the tying and go-ahead runs.
"Teams that can do all the things – walks, stealing, all those
_ are the teams that are going to win," Klesko said. "You can
look at all the power lineups throughout the American League and
National League, and not all those guys are winning."
Klesko was quick to point out that he's not the only one
contributing.
"Everybody's been a part of this – the pitching, the bullpen,
the offense. Everyone," he said.
But the focus the last few days has been on Klesko, who homered
twice both Monday and Tuesday nights at Houston.
"We relied on him so much in Houston that it was
unbelievable," catcher Ben Davis said. "I mean, he basically
carried us, by himself. We know we can't expect that out of him
every day."
But Klesko is patient and bats in front of cleanup hitter Phil
Nevin, who's batting .331.
"Ryan knows he doesn't have to swing at everything they throw
up there," Davis said.
Rookie Wascar Serrano (2-1) won his second straight start and
Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances.
The Padres won their season-high sixth straight and have won
eight of nine. They've won 19 of 26 games since bottoming out at
7-14 on April 25.
The Padres went 7-2 on their just-completed trip through New
York, Montreal and Houston, during which they jumped from last
place into a first-place tie with Arizona.
The Padres hadn't been in first since winning the division in
1998 and reaching the World Series.
"Hopefully we'll be talking about this later on," manager
Bruce Bochy said. "It's been fun to watch."
Nevin said it's important to keep things in perspective, but he
likes the feeling that winning gives the players and the fans.
"It's nice for a lot of people who haven't been in a situation
like this to have that kind of feeling," he said. "It's obviously
nicer to see San Diego listed higher in the standings than where
we've been the last two years."
New Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly said the Padres are doing
everything they have to do to win.
"They are getting outstanding pitching, their bullpen is solid
and they've got some thunder in the middle of their lineup,"
Brenly said. `They've got some guys who can steal bases and play
solid defense. I'm not surprised at all."
Klesko didn't even have to swing the bat to help manufacture the
Padres' first two runs as they rallied from an early 1-0 deficit.
He walked leading off the fourth inning, stole second and third
and, with two outs, scored when center fielder Steve Finley, who's
won the last two NL Gold Glove awards, let Bubba Trammell's routine
fly ball kick off his glove for a three-base error.
Klesko also walked leading off the sixth, off reliever Troy
Brohawn (1-2) and moved to third on Phil Nevin's infield single and
third baseman Greg Colbrunn's ensuing throwing error. Klesko scored
the go-ahead run on Ben Davis' single, and Nevin scored on
Trammell's double-play ball.
Klesko struck out in the eighth to finish 0-for-1.
Arizona took a quick 1-0 lead when Tony Womack hit a leadoff
triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by the No. 2 hitter, Jay Bell.
Serrano dodged a bases-loaded jam with one out in the sixth by
striking out two former Padres, Reggie Sanders and Finley. Serrano
had allowed consecutive one-out singles by Luis Gonzalez, Greg
Colbrunn and Mark Grace. Colbrunn's single ricocheted off Serrano's
lower right leg. Trainers checked Serrano and he stayed in the
game.
Serrano allowed one run and six hits in seven innings, struck
out four and walked three.
Diamondbacks starter Miguel Batista lasted just 4 2-3 innings,
allowing one unearned run on two hits. He struck out three and
walked three.
Game notes
Klesko has a team-high 13 stolen bases. ... Padres general
manager Kevin Towers was still raving about Klesko's batting
practice homer Monday night in Houston. "I though it was leaving
the stadium," Towers said of the shot that some have estimated at
500 feet. "I'd go out and pay to watch Klesko take batting
practice." ... Padres RH reliever Rodney Myers (1-1, one save,
4.58 ERA) was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained
right shoulder and LH reliever Jimmy Osting was recalled from
Double-A Mobile for his second stint with the Padres. Myers was put
on the DL retroactive to Sunday.
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RECAPS
NY Yankees 2
Boston 1
Baltimore 6
Anaheim 4
Cleveland 8
Detroit 5
Chi. White Sox 3
Toronto 1
Texas 9
Tampa Bay 3
St. Louis 7
Milwaukee 4
Chicago Cubs 3
Cincinnati 0
San Diego 3
Arizona 1
Philadelphia 6
Pittsburgh 5
NY Mets 11
Florida 3
San Francisco 5
Colorado 1
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