Headley's homer help Padres win 10th in a row

[May 26, 2009]  PHOENIX (AP) -- Chase Headley hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning as San Diego rallied from a six-run deficit to win its 10th straight game, beating Arizona 9-7 on Monday.

San Diego, which snapped an 11-game road losing streak, trailed 7-1 entering the eighth inning, but scored five in the eighth, one in the ninth and two in the 10th.

Padres catcher Nick Hundley and manager Bud Black weren't around to watch the impressive finish. They were thrown out by home plate umpire Eric Cooper in the bottom of the sixth.

Henry Blanco, who had replaced Hundley, led off the 10th with his second single, then Headley hit a 1-1 pitch from Tony Pena (4-2) some 424 feet off a sign above the swimming pool in left-center.

Edward Mujica (2-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory. Heath Bell had a perfect 10th for his 13th save in 13 tries.

Drew Macias had the big blow of the rally, a three-run double to slice the lead to 7-6.

Arizona's Chad Qualls blew a save for the second time in 13 opportunities, giving up a leadoff double to pinch hitter Brian Giles, who advanced to third on David Eckstein's ground out and scored on Scott Hairston's single to tie it at 7-7.

The Padres' Adrian Gonzalez hit his 17th homer, a leadoff shot in the fourth.

A grounder through the legs of Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew opened the way for the San Diego rally.

After started Doug Davis left with the bases loaded and one out, reliever Jon Rauch gave up RBI singles to Kevin Kouzmanoff and Henry Blanco. Lefty Clay Zavada, who had yet to give up a hit in two appearances since being called up from Double-A Mobile, got Headley to pop out, but Macias doubled to the right-center gap to make it a one-run game.

Hundley and Black were tossed after Cooper ruled that the catcher had come off of home plate after receiving a throw from the first baseman Gonzalez for what would have been a force out with the bases loaded. Hundley then threw to first for what the Padres believed was a double play to end the inning.

The run that crossed the plate on the play made it 7-1.

Chris Snyder ignited Arizona's five-run third with a leadoff homer on the first pitch from Chad Gaudin. Starter Doug Davis hit the next pitch past the outstretched arm of center fielder Scott Hairston for a stand-up triple. Gerrardo Parra, Justin Upton and Drew all had RBIs in the inning. The fifth run scored on starter Chad Gaudin's wild pitch.

Notes: Before the game, John "Jack" McCain IV, son of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) stood with his mother Cindy on the mound during a moment silence for U.S. service personnel who have died in battle. Sen. McCain watched from a front-row seat near the Diamondbacks dugout. ... Five of Gaudin's six starts have come on the road. ... Arizona 2B Felipe Lopez sat out his second straight game because hamstring tightness.

[Associated Press; By BOB BAUM]

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