Thu Sep 20 19:58:13 2007

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Red-hot Padres complete sweep of Pirates

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San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Kevin Kouzmanoff and Michael Barrett each hit two-run doubles and Brett Tomko pitched six strong innings, as the surging San Diego Padres continued their march to the postseason with a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The NL Wild Card-leading Padres finished off a four-game sweep of the hapless Pirates and have won seven in a row overall. San Diego moved three games in front of Philadelphia in the wild card standings and a half game behind Arizona for the NL West division lead. Both the Phillies and Diamondbacks play later on Thursday.

Tomko (4-11), in his second start since signing with San Diego, gave up three runs on five hits and struck out six without walking a batter. The right- hander, who began the season with the Dodgers, retired the final 11 batters he faced.

"The fact that when I got designated (by Los Angeles) means I can't play in the playoffs," said Tomko. "This is my playoffs. To come and double my win total from LA in just two games is definitely satisfying."

Pittsburgh had the tying run at the plate with two outs in the ninth, but Trevor Hoffman got Matt Kata to pop out for his 40th save of the season.

Carlos Maldonado homered and Nyjer Morgan tripled and scored a pair of runs for the Pirates, who have lost six in a row.

"You've gotta give them credit," said Pirates manager Jim Tracy. "They beat us. I don't think there's anything in the last four days that said we did anything to embarrass ourselves. They just beat us."

Pittsburgh starter Matt Morris (9-11) was tagged for eight hits and six runs over four innings of work.

Trailing 1-0 after Morgan led off the game with a triple and scored on a Cesar Izturis groundout, the Padres answered with three runs in the second inning.

With one out and runners on second and third, Scott Hairston's double to right tied the game at 1-1. Barrett followed with a double of his own that put San Diego up 3-1.

Pittsburgh tied it in the third on Maldonado's leadoff homer and Freddy Sanchez's RBI single. San Diego, however, answered right back with three runs in the home half of the inning.

Khalil Greene ripped a two-out double with runners on the corners to put the Padres back in front. Kouzmanoff's subsequent double chased two more runs home and made it 6-3 San Diego.

Game Notes

The Padres swept the Pirates at home in a four-game series for the first time in franchise history...Attendance was 27,020.