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The
San Diego Padres
are desperate for some offense. A win would also be welcome.
They'll look to end a five-game losing streak when they wrap up a three-game set with the
Los Angeles Dodgers
at Petco Park on Sunday.
The Padres (8-15) have scored just five runs during their losing streak, including two so far in the series with Los Angeles.
They lost 5-2 on Saturday and have not won since a 7-4 victory over the
New York Mets
on April 23.
Mark Bellhorn
tripled in a run and
Adrian Gonzalez
added a sacrifice fly Saturday for San Diego.
Brian Giles
ended a streak of 20 straight Padres batters retired with a first-inning single, but the Dodgers retired the last 15 San Diego
batters.
San Diego's losing streak is its longest since dropping eight in a row July 17-26. It also has scored two or fewer runs in
12 of its 23 games this season.
Their first lead during the current skid came in the fourth inning Saturday.
''We played pretty good baseball,'' catcher
Doug Mirabelli
said. ''It's hard to get something going. We're so sporadic right now.''
J.D. Drew had an RBI single for the Dodgers (12-12), extending his streak of reaching base safely to 33 games, dating to June
16, and his hitting streak to 11 games.
''It's all nice,'' Drew said. ''It gives you a comfort level and lets you play the game more relaxed. In turn, hopefully,
I'll get better at-bats every day.''
Nomar Garciaparra
added a solo homer and drove in two runs for Los Angeles, which has won four of its last six.
Derek Lowe
(1-1, 3.77 ERA) will look to continue the Padres' woes in the series finale. He allowed just one run and four hits in seven
innings of the Dodgers' 6-2 win over the
Houston Astros
on Monday, but did not receive a decision.
Lowe has given up just four earned runs in 26 innings in his last four starts since allowing eight in five innings on opening
day on April 3.
Lowe has made six career starts against the Padres, going 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA. Lowe posted a 1.22 ERA in five starts against
them last season, his first with Los Angeles after seven seasons with Boston.
Lowe's ERA was his best against any National League team.
San Diego will counter with
Chan Ho Park
(1-1, 4.62), who gave up four runs and nine hits in 8 2-3 innings of Monday's 4-1 loss to Arizona. The outing, his third start
after two appearances out of the bullpen, was his longest since pitching a complete-game, 4-1 victory over the
Atlanta Braves
on Aug. 24, 2001 while with the Dodgers.
''Chan Ho was strong throughout the game,'' manager
Bruce Bochy
said. ''That was a great effort by him.''
Park started his career with Los Angeles, going 80-54 for the Dodgers from 1994-2001. He is 0-1 with a 4.70 ERA in two career
starts against his former team, both of which came late last season after he was traded from Texas in July.
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