The Padres were able to overcome Los Angeles pitching with a couple of “firsts” to push the Dodgers back even farther, winning this week’s home stand 2-1. Los Angeles had a chance to gain some ground on San Diego playing them seven out of 10 games trailing by six. But the Padres were able to beat the Dodgers on Wednesday to get their first home win versus their bitter rival this season. A walk-off victory Thursday gave them their first series win against LA and extended their lead to seven games. It was also their first win in brown this season

dropping their previous two on “Throwback Thursday”.

The Padres face Florida at Petco for a three game series while the Dodgers head up to San Francisco before the two meet again for four games on Monday. Here is a game by game breakdown of how the Padres fared in this week’s series between the senior circuit’s southern California franchises.

July 27^th, 2010 Padres 0 Dodgers 2

WP Chad Billingsley (9-5) 6IP 3H 0R 0ER 2BB4K 0HR

LP Jon Garland (9-7) 6.67IP 5H 2R 2ER 2BB 5K 0HR

S Jonathon Broxton (20) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 1K 0HR

In a game where pitching was dominant the Los Angeles Dodgers were able to come through where the Padres failed to secure a 2-0 victory in San Diego Tuesday night. Jon Garland was dominant into the seventh retiring the first two batters before giving up consecutive singles to Blake DeWitt and Garrett Anderson. In a battle of wits Bud Black opted to walk Russell Martin to have Garland face the equally dominant Chad Billingsley with the bases loaded, forcing Joe Torres hand to remove him for a pinch hitter.

But Torre had regular starter Andre Ethier available off the bench to pinch-hit though battling the stomach-flu. Ethier came through with single to shallow center scoring DeWitt and Anderson to give the Dodgers the lead 2-0.

In a similar situation in the bottom of the fourth the Padres loaded the bases with three straight singles by Adrian Gonzalez, Chase Headley, and Yorvit Torrealba. But Will Venable grounded into a fielder’s choice where Gonzalez was tagged out at home after a high throw pulled Martin off the plate. Tony Gwynn Jr. popped up to shallow left center before Everth Cabrera struck out looking to end the inning and let a golden opportunity slip away.

The Padres were unable to score on another opportunity in the seventh when Chris Denorfia struck out with runners at the corners. Jonathon Broxton struck out one in a perfect ninth for his twentieth save.

July 28^th, 2010 Padres 6 Dodgers 1

WP Clayton Richard (8-5) 6IP 4H 1R 1ER 1BB 6K 0HR

LP Hideki Kuroda (8-9) 6IP 4H 3R 3ER 2B 5K 0HR

After coming up empty in a big opportunity the night before, the son of San Diego’s greatest player jumpstarted the Padres stagnant offense to come from behind and win 6-1 to tie the season series at one all.

Tony Gwynn Jr. entered the game pinch-hitting for pitcher Clayton Richard. Gwynn singled and promptly stole second base before Chris Denorfia drew the walk. Noticing centerfielder Matt Kemp was playing deep, Gwynn took off without tagging on Adrian Gonzalez’s bloop single to center. Denorfia advanced to second on the play.

“It’s a calculated risk, but it’s a smart one,” said Gwynn. “That’s why they have you check the outfielders because of situations like that. On a ball that can fall in, you give yourself a good chance to score. That’s exactly how it played out.”

Chase Headley drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Nick Hundley gave the Padres the lead with a sacrifice fly scoring Denorfia.

Jerry Hairston Jr. doubled in the seventh scoring brother Scott with two out bringing up Denorfia. “The Norf” then singled in “JHJ” to give the Padres a 4-1 lead.

The Men of the cloth added two more on Hairston Jr.’s eighth-inning, two-out single to give the Pads a 6-1 lead.

July 29^th, 2010 Padres 3 Dodgers 2

WP Heath Bell (5-0) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 1K 0HR

LP George Sherrill (1-2) .33IP 2H 1R 1ER 0BB 0K 0HR

Oscar Salazar slapped a low and outside breaking ball up the middle passed a diving Jamey Caroll to score Scott Hairston from second and give the Padres yet another victory in their final at-bat. The Padres, wearing their 1978 throwback brown jerseys, won for the first time during their “Throwback Thursday” promotions this season.

Scott Hairston single to lead off the ninth with the game tied at two. Tony Gwynn Jr. sacrificed him to second, bunting to the pitcher with two strikes. That would bring up “El Armadillo” and his trademark yellow battling gloves that didn’t clash with today’s uniforms. Oscar ran the count full, fouling off several pitches before connecting for the game winning hit.

The Padres took a 1-0 lead when Chase Headley singled to shallow right-center scoring Jerry Hairston Jr. who had an infield single to start the first.

The Friars also won for the ninth consecutive start by young phenom Mat Latos. Latos began the game striking out two of three Dodgers in the first. He struck out seven in five innings. Latos surrendered a solo homerun to first baseman James Loney in the second to tie the game 1-1.

Yorvit Torealba doubled in Chase Headley from first to give the Padres a 2-1 lead in the fourth. The hit extended Yorvit’s streak to 12 games.

Latos allowed an unearned run the when Garett Anderson singled to left field. Scott Hairston misplayed the hit allowing Jamey Caroll to score and Brad Ausmus to advance to third. Anderson moved to second on the play as well before Brad Ausmaus was thrown out at home on Scott Podsednik’s grounder. Rafael Furcal flew out to end the inning tied at two.

Heath Bell came in with the game tied in the ninth and struck out Loney, followed by a groundout by Xavier Paul and a fly out by Carroll. He received the win being the pitcher of record before Salazar’s heroics.