Padres Blank Braves Behind Peavy

SAN DIEGO 4, ARIZONA 0

By Tim Powers
Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Jake Peavy tossed seven scoreless innings and Scott Hairston had a pair of hits and scored two runs to help the San Diego Padres post a 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday. The struggling Padres, who had lost 17 of 22 coming in, leaned on their ace and he came up big. Peavy (7-5) allowed four hits en route to his second straight win, which was his second in seven career starts vs. the Braves. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner struck out seven and walked one.

The Padres (36-57) have the third-worst mark in baseball, and Peavy know he represents their best shot to win every time he takes the hill. "I've got to be that guy, and I understand that I have to be as upbeat as I can," Peavy said. "It's been a tough year, I think everybody in our clubhouse will tell you. I need to be a guy that this team can count on to give a quality effort every fifth day." Peavy, who spent nearly a month on the disabled list with a strained elbow, has not allowed a run in his last 14 innings. "What I liked today, was I thought (Peavy) did a good job of changing speeds," Padres manager Bud Black said. "The more that he can do that, I think it will be effective."

Heath Bell worked a scoreless eighth before Mike Adams allowed two hits in the ninth to set up a save situation for Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman, the all-time saves leader, struck out Brent Lillibridge to convert his 17th in 20 chances and secure San Diego's first win over Atlanta this season.