After vetoing trade, Peavy shuts down Cubs 4-0

[May 23, 2009]  SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Jake Peavy struck out 10 a day after vetoing a trade to the White Sox, and the San Diego Padres beat Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs 4-0 Friday night to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games.

Tony Gwynn Jr. doubled and scored two runs in his first start for San Diego since arriving via a trade with Milwaukee on Thursday. Gwynn drew a pinch-hit walk and scored the winning run in the ninth inning Thursday night as the Padres beat San Francisco 3-2.

One day after he nixed a trade to the White Sox, Peavy burned the other Chicago team as well. Peavy (4-5) struck out the side in the first and cruised from there in San Diego's first shutout this season, holding Chicago hitless until the fourth and allowing just one other hit over six innings. He walked four.

Peavy and three relievers combined on a five-hitter in handing the Cubs their fourth shutout. Heath Bell got the final out for his 12th save in as many chances. After replacing Edward Mujica, he walked the bases loaded before getting Derrek Lee to foul out to first base.

After pitching his first complete game of the season in his last start, Peavy, the 2007 Cy Young Award winner, recorded double-digit strikeouts for a franchise-best 30th time, and the third time this season.

During the offseason, the Cubs were interested in obtaining Peavy but eventually broke off talks. The Padres have tried to move Peavy in a salary-slashing move.

Zambrano (3-2) was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game. He had been out since May 3 after straining his left hamstring while running out a bunt single. The right-hander allowed three runs on three hits over 4 2-3 innings while striking out seven and walking four.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo home run in the seventh, tying Philadelphia's Raul Ibanez for the major league lead with 16.

Brian Giles broke out of a slump and drove in two runs. Giles entered the game batting .161 and had gone 0 for 10 on the homestand.

The struggling Cubs have scored only two runs in four games on this road trip, and have dropped five straight overall. The Cubs have scored four runs or more in all 21 of their victories, but have pushed across three runs or fewer in 16 of 19 defeats.

Padres second baseman David Eckstein took a pitch to the chest when he squared to bunt but missed the high pitch in the first inning. He fell to the ground and remained down for a few minutes while being tended to, then got up and went to first.

Edgar Gonzalez replaced him for the top of the second. The Padres said Eckstein has a chest bruise. X-rays were negative.

Peavy hit Bobby Scales on the right thigh with his first pitch of the second inning, drawing a warning from plate umpire Dana DeMuth, who also warned both dugouts.

Notes:@ Cubs manager Lou Piniella rested three struggling starters in an attempt to jump-start the offense. Regulars Milton Bradley (batting .184), Mike Fontenot (.195) and Geovany Soto (.206) did not start and Piniella indicted others will sit on Saturday. Fontenot pinch hit and grounded out in the seventh and Bradley struck out as a pinch hitter in the ninth. ... Gwynn saved the ball from his first hit as a Padre, the only team for which his father played during his 20-year, Hall-of-Fame career. ... Also getting a souvenir was Mujica, who singled in his first big league plate appearance. ... Bud Black had a bandage on his left temple after having a mole removed Friday. Further tests will be conducted to determine the severity of the growth.

[Associated Press]

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