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Seeking consecutive playoffs berths for the first time in franchise history, the
San Diego Padres
traded for postseason veteran
David Wells
to help during the stretch run.
Wells makes his first appearance since joining the Padres on Sunday as they wrap up their three-game series with the
Cincinnati Reds
at Petco Park.
San Diego (69-66) defeated the Reds 7-1 on Saturday after losing Friday's series opener 6-2. The Padres, who won the NL West
last season, lead Philadelphia by one game in the wild-card race, but trail the
Los Angeles Dodgers
by four games for the division lead.
San Diego, which has won eight of its last 12 games, acquired Wells (2-3, 4.98 ERA in AL) from Boston on Thursday.
Wells has made only eight starts this season after three stints on the disabled list due to right knee problems, but has been
stellar in his five August outings.
Since returning from the DL on July 31, Wells is 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA.
''They have an opportunity to win here,'' said Wells, who went 12-8 with a 3.73 ERA for the Padres in 2004. ''It's just an
opportunity to pitch and try to help a team win and go into the playoffs. That's when I shine. I've done it my whole career.
I love the ball in a big game. I'm not afraid to take it, I'm not afraid to fail, I'm not afraid to lose and I love to win.
''As long as I've been pitching as well as I have, hopefully I can make a difference here and help these guys win a pennant.''
The 43-year-old left-hander is 21-9 with a 3.70 ERA in 39 September starts since 1998, and has been even more outstanding
in postseason play.
He's pitched in the playoffs 10 times for five clubs - Boston, the
New York Yankees
, Toronto, Cincinnati and Baltimore, with a career record of 10-4 and a 3.15 ERA. He won World Series rings with the
Blue Jays
in 1992 and the Yankees in 1998.
Wells is 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA in four career games against the Reds (68-68), for whom he pitched in 1995.
Rookie second baseman
Josh Barfield
hit a two-run homer on Saturday for the Padres, while
Dave Roberts
had a two-run single. Roberts is 10-for-23 (.435) in his last five games with two triples and five RBIs.
San Diego's
Jake Peavy
threw a two-hitter Saturday, as the Reds lost for the seventh time in eight games and fell 1 1/2 games back in the wild-card
race.
Adam Dunn
hit is 39th homer of the season in the fourth inning and
Rich Aurilia
had a single to left leading off the eighth, providing Cincinnati's only hits.
''If (Dunn) doesn't hit that ball, we might have had a no-hitter against us,'' Reds manager
Jerry Narron
said. ''Richie got a hit, but I don't remember another ball hit hard.''
Dunn is batting .333 (11-for-33) with five homers and 12 RBIs in eight career games at Petco Park, his highest batting average
at any NL stadium.
Cincinnati has won just two games on its 10-game road trip, which concludes Sunday with
Eric Milton
(8-7, 5.16) on the mound seeking his first win since Aug. 8.
The Reds have gone 3-1 in Milton's last four starts, but the left-hander hasn't recorded a decision that span. He gave up
four runs and six hits in five innings of a 6-5, 16-inning loss to the
Los Angeles Dodgers
on Tuesday.
Milton has pitched better on the road then at home this season, compiling a 5-1 record with a 4.57 ERA in 10 starts away from
Great American Ball Park.
Milton is 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts against the Padres - both at Petco Park.
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