Kouzmanoff's homer leads Padres past Cardinals 3-2

[May 21, 2008]  SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, a rare clutch hit for San Diego that carried the Padres to a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals but came too late to give Greg Maddux the victory Tuesday night.

The win was just the fifth in 16 games for the Padres (17-30), who continue to have the worst record in the majors. St. Louis' three-game winning streak ended.

Kouzmanoff hit a 1-0 pitch from Joel Pineiro over the 396 sign in straightaway center field with two outs in the sixth. Jody Gerut and Brian Giles walked ahead of the homer, Kouzmanoff's fourth.

The 42-year-old Maddux, making his second start since earning his 350th career victory, went five innings, allowing two runs and five hits. He struck out two and walked one.

Maddux was lifted for pinch-hitter Tony Clark in the fifth, when the Padres trailed 2-0 and had a rare scoring opportunity. But with runners on second and third and two outs, Clark flied out to center field.

Bryan Corey (1-0) earned his first win with San Diego by holding St. Louis to one hit in two scoreless innings. He was acquired from Boston on May 11.

Trevor Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save in 11 chances. He extended his big league career record to 533. Albert Pujols, who hit two towering homers in Monday night's 8-2 Cardinals win, popped up to shortstop to start the ninth.

The Cardinals scored two runs off three hits and a walk in the second. Troy Glaus doubled in Ryan Ludwick, who drew a leadoff walk, and later scored on Adam Kennedy's grounder.

Pineiro (2-3) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings, struck out seven and walked three.

Notes: Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Padres with a strained and swollen right elbow. The move was retroactive to Thursday, a day after he lasted just four innings against the Chicago Cubs. LH reliever Joe Thatcher was recalled from Triple-A Portland to take Peavy's roster spot. LHP Wil Ledezma will take Peavy's spot in the rotation. ... A warmup pitch by Cardinals reliever Kyle McClellan in the bottom of the seventh bounced in the dirt and hit C Yadier Molina in the mask. Molina was checked by a trainer and stayed in the game.

[Associated Press; By BERNIE WILSON]

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