Peavy, Ensberg boost Padres past D'backs By BERNIE WILSON, AP Sports Writer

Peavy, Ensberg boost Padres past D'backs By BERNIE WILSON, AP Sports Writer
50 minutes ago



SAN DIEGO - Jake Peavy and Morgan Ensberg helped the slumping San Diego Padres get back on their feet, just in time to face Barry Bonds. Peavy struck out 10 to pass 1,000 for his career and Ensberg hit two two-run homers in his first start with the Padres, helping San Diego to an 11-0 win over first-place Arizona on Thursday.

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With Wally Joyner in his first day as the Padres' hitting coach, San Diego's anemic offense provided a rare power display. Khalil Greene added a three-run homer and Adrian Gonzalez had a solo shot. Gonzalez, aboard for both of Ensberg's homers, scored three runs. Joyner replaced Merv Rettenmund, who was fired on Tuesday.

Ensberg homered for the Padres a week after homering against them. He was acquired from Houston on Tuesday, one of three deals the Padres made before the non-waiver deadline. Another newcomer, Rob Mackowiak, also made his first San Diego start, filling in for injured right fielder Brian Giles. Batting leadoff, Mackowiak went 2-for-5, stole a base and scored two runs.

The 26-year-old Peavy (1,004) joined Andy Benes (1,036) as the only Padres pitchers to reach the 1,000-strikeout plateau. Peavy (11-5) reached double digits in strikeouts for the fifth time this season and the 20th time in his career. He had gone 13 straight starts without striking out at least 10 after doing so in four straight starts from April 25-May 11. That streak started at Arizona when he struck out 16 to tie his club record.

Peavy, the All-Star starter, leads the NL with 154 punchouts.

Peavy returned to the form that earned him the start in the All-Star game, holding Arizona to three hits in seven innings. He walked one. Relievers Cla Meredith and newcomer Wilfredo Ledezma held Arizona hitless to finish San Diego's 15th shutout, tops in the majors.

Peavy struck out the side in the first inning. He reached 1,000 when he got Jeff DaVanon to look at strike three leading off the fourth. Peavy struck out DaVanon three times.

Only one Arizona baserunner reached third against Peavy.

The third-place Padres, who are trying to capture their third straight NL West title, have won just eight of 20 games since the All-Star break. They avoided a three-game sweep and pulled to 1 1/2 games of the Diamondbacks.

The Padres open a three-game series against Bonds and the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. Bonds went into Thursday night's game at Los Angeles one home run shy of tying Hank Aaron's career record of 755.

Bonds has hit 86 home runs against the Padres, his most against any team. He's hit only three in 73 at-bats at Petco Park, which opened in 2004.

Ensberg, acquired from Houston before Tuesday's trade deadline for a player to be named or cash, started at third in place of rookie Kevin Kouzmanoff. With Gonzalez on board with a leadoff walk in the second, Ensberg hit a two-out homer to left on a 1-1 pitch from Yusmeiro Petit (2-3). He homered into the second deck in left on a full-count pitch from reliever Dustin Nippert with two outs in the seventh, his 10th. Josh Bard was aboard on a walk.

Two batters earlier, Greene hit a three-run shot into the balcony on the third level of the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner, his 17th.

The slumping Ensberg had been designated for assignment by the Astros on Sunday. He homered off new teammate David Wells last Thursday in the Astros' 7-1 win over the Padres.

Gonzalez homered with one out in the fourth off Petit, his 17th.

Petit allowed five runs and five hits in 4 1-3 innings, struck out four and walked four.

Notes:@ Arizona's top prospect, Justin Upton, was called up earlier in the day and made his big league debut when he came in to play right field in the eighth. He fouled out leading off the ninth. ... Ensberg has five career multihomer games. ... Goose Gossage, a reliever with the Padres' 1984 World Series team, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.