Gonzo's homer helps Padres beat Mad Dog, Dodgers

[September 09, 2008]  SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer off former teammate Greg Maddux and the last-place San Diego Padres beat NL West leader Los Angeles 4-0 on Monday night, snapping the Dodgers' eight-game winning streak.

Cha Seung Baek combined with two relievers to four-hit the Dodgers, who came in with a 1 1/2-game lead over Arizona. Los Angeles leapfrogged Arizona into the division lead with a three-game weekend sweep at Dodger Stadium.

Andre Ethier had three of the Dodgers' hits, including two doubles.

While Maddux dropped to 1-3 with the Dodgers, Baek (5-9) got enough run support to win at home for the first time this season. Acquired from Seattle in late May, Baek had been 0-7 with a 5.94 ERA at Petco Park. He allowed three hits in seven innings.

Maddux (7-12) beat the Padres 5-2 last week in L.A. for his 354th career win, tying him with Roger Clemens for eighth place on the all-time list. Maddux was traded from the San Diego to Los Angeles on Aug. 19 after Brad Penny went on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.

Mad Dog must have felt like he never left San Diego. While with the Padres, he went 14 starts without a win, from May 15-July 23, the longest streak of his career. That span included plenty of nights with little run support. Overall, Maddux is 3-5 in 15 starts at Petco Park this year.

Maddux allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. He had words with home plate umpire Angel Hernandez after falling behind Will Venable 3-0 in the sixth.

The 42-year-old Maddux started his 30th game for the 13th straight season. His 305 starts are the most since the start of the 2000 season.

Brian Giles doubled on Maddux's first pitch of the night and came in on Gonzalez's two-out, opposite-field homer to left. It was Gonzalez's 29th homer, but his first since Aug. 9, a span of 96 at-bats.

Kevin Kouzmanoff provided the rest of San Diego's offense, hitting a sacrifice fly in the third and an RBI single in the fifth.

Notes: Padres rookie Chase Headley struck out four times. ... Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he got a call Monday from Yankees general manager Brian Cashman "wishing me good luck. We talk from time to time," said Torre, who resigned as manager of the Yankees in October. The Yankees opened a series at Anaheim on Monday night. ... Manny Ramirez, making his first visit to Petco Park since being traded from Boston to L.A., was booed every time he came to bat. He was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, stranding three runners. ... Dodgers RHP Jason Schmidt is scheduled for yet another surgery, this one an arthroscopic procedure on Wednesday on his right shoulder to clean up some scar tissue. He's expected to resume throwing within six weeks. ... Dodgers 2B Jeff Kent developed a sore calf after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last week and the team decided it would be best if he stayed home to rehab rather than travel with the team, trainer Stan Conte said. Kent might be able to return to action this month. ... Penny threw 40 pitches in the bullpen and 30 more in a simulated game on Monday. He could be activated Friday, and would pitch out of the bullpen, Torre said. ... San Diego OF Jody Gerut probably won't play this series due to a sprained left middle finger.

[Associated Press; By BERNIE WILSON]

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