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After recently being dominated by the Phillies, the
San Diego Padres
look to win their fourth straight game over Philadelphia for the first time in almost six years Tuesday when their three-game
series continues at Petco Park.
The Padres (49-43) won their first game since the All-Star break, 8-6 on Monday after being swept in a three-game series by
the
Atlanta Braves
over the weekend.
Adrian Gonzalez
hit two home runs to give him 18 on the season, including a three-run shot in the seventh inning to give San Diego the lead.
He has seven homers and 15 RBIs in his last seven games for the first-place Padres, who have a three-game lead over the
Arizona Diamondbacks
in the NL West.
''When you know you have your manager's confidence, it really changes your attitude in everything you do out there,'' said
Gonzalez, who has two multihomer games in his last four contests. ''Even when I was struggling, Boch (manager
Bruce Bochy
) brought me into the office and told me that I was going to be the guy (at first base) and he told me he was going to give
me a few days off to get back to myself. And it has worked out well.
''I've been able to relax and have fun with it and not try to press or do more than I can.''
Josh Barfield
had three singles, and is batting .551 (27-for-49) with eight runs and five doubles in 13 games in July.
The Padres, who had lost 11 straight games to the Phillies (42-49) from May 23, 2004-July 4, have now won their last three.
They have not won four in a row over Philadelphia since July 31-Aug. 7, 2000.
Clay Hensley
(5-7, 4.70 ERA) will start for San Diego on Tuesday after struggling out of the bullpen in his last outing.
Pressed into a reliever's role in a slugfest on Friday, Hensley took the loss of a 15-12, 11-inning defeat to the Braves,
allowing three runs and two hits in the final inning.
Hensley, though, has been impressive as a starter at Petco Park recently. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his last
four home starts, and is 4-2 with a 3.33 ERA in seven starts at Petco Park this season.
Hensley has a 3.21 ERA in five career games against the Phillies, but has yet to record a decision in those contests. He allowed
five runs and seven hits in six innings in a 6-5 loss on July 4.
Philadelphia counters with
Ryan Madson
(8-6, 5.91), who will make his first start since facing the Padres 12 days ago.
Madson allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings of a 5-3 defeat to San Diego on July 6, but hasn't pitched since due
to the All-Star break.
''I was struggling mechanically the whole game,'' Madson said. ''I don't know what it is. I've just go to simplify it. I left
a lot of balls over the plate. That's what bothering me the most.''
The 25-year-old right-hander has split his last six starts, going 3-3 with a 5.71 ERA in that span. He has alternated good
and bad outings in that stretch, posting a 1.96 ERA in the wins, but a 13.11 ERA in the losses.
Madson is 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA in eight career games against the Padres.
Monday's loss was Philadelphia's first at Petco Park, which opened in 2004. The Phillies had won eight straight games in San
Diego, with their last defeat coming on May 2, 2003.
Ryan Howard
tied St. Louis'
Albert Pujols
for the NL home run lead with his 31st, and the Phillies first baseman is 7-for-16 (.438) with three homers and seven RBIs
in four games since the All-Star break.
Chase Utley
went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs on Monday, extending his career-high hitting streak to 19 games. Utley is batting
.405 (34-for-84) with 10 doubles, 17 runs and 13 RBIs during his current run.
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