Padres Send Germano in Game Two

San Diego (78-65) at LA Dodgers (75-69), 10:10 pm, 4SD/1090/105.7

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Dodgers try to make up some ground in the playoff race Wednesday when they host the San Diego Padres in the middle game of a three-game series. The Padres grabbed the first game of the series behind a strong performance from starter Jake Peavy, won leads the National League in all three pitching triple crown categories.

San Diego now owns a 2 1/2 game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies (76-68) in the NL wild card race. The Dodgers trail the Padres by 3 1/2 games.

The Dodgers will send Derek Lowe (11-12, 3.80 ERA) to the mound. The veteran sinkerballer is no stranger to pennant-race baseball, having pitched in the playoffs in five different seasons, including with Los Angeles in 2006. Lowe has struggled of late, going 1-1 with a 7.16 ERA in his past three outings. He got lit up by the Padres on September 1, allowing seven runs - six earned - and six hits in 4 1/3 innings.

San Diego will counter with Justin Germano (7-9, 4.38). The 25-year-old righthander pitched well against the Dodgers on September 2, allowing one run in six innings, but was saddled with the loss as the Padres fell, 5-0.