The Padres narrowly avoided a sweep beating the Marlins on Sunday 6-5. After acquiring Miguel Tejada Thursday they lost two straight to Florida. But they were able to keep a one and a half game lead over San Francisco. The Padres will head north to Los Angeles to play four at Chavez Ravine starting Monday, August 2^nd.

July 30^th, 2010 Padres 2 Marlins 4

WP Chris Volstad (5-8) 5IP 7H 2R 2ER 3BB 1K 0HR

LP Wade LeBlanc (5-9) 6.33IP 5H 4R 4ER 2BB 5K 2HR

S Leo Nunez (25) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 2K 0HR

The Marlins managed only five hits but turned them into four runs to beat the Padres Friday night, 4-2.

The Marlins got solo home runs to left field by Cody Ross and Gaby Sanchez in the fourth and sixth innings. They scored two runs t take the lead in the second when Hanley Ramirez sacrificed in Wes Helms followed by an RBI single by left fielder Logan Morrison.

The Padres took an early lead when Chase Headley’s RBI single scored Jerry Hairston Jr. Headley got in a rundown when the ball was cutoff as he took a wide turn around first base. Miguel Tejada then tried to score and was tagged out in a rundown of his own to end the inning. Tejada drew a walk in his first Padres at-bat on 11 pitches.

Adrian Gonzalez singled in Chris Denorfia to add a run for the Padres in the 6^th. All Marlins hits were given up by Wade LeBlanc who lost his ninth game of the season. The Padres bullpen retired all eight batters they faced without giving up a hit.

Former Padre Clay Hensley pitched a scoreless eighth for his 17^th hold of the season.

July 31^st, 2010 Padres 4 Marlins 6

WP Ricky Nolasco (12-7) 8.33IP 5H 3R 3ER 1BB 7K 1HR

LP Kevin Correia (7-7) 6IP 4H 3R 3ER 4BB 4K 2HR

S Leo Nunez (26) 0.67IP 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 0K 0HR

The Marlins jumped out to an early lead and Ricky Nolasco’s dominance on the mound prevented the Padres from getting close as they lost 6-3 to the Fish on Saturday night. Nolasco was dominant for eight innings giving up only one run until the ninth on a solo shot by Scott Hairston in the bottom of the sixth.

Mike Stanton gave the Marlins a 2-0 lead with a two-run dinger in the first scoring Dan Uggla. Uggla homered himself in the top of the 6^th for his 23^rd of the season. It was his 144^th as a Marlin making him the franchise’s all-time longball leader.

Down five in the ninth with one out, Jerry Hairston Jr. singled followed by a Chase Headley ground rule double. Adrian Gonzalez then scored them both on a single to shallow right, prompting a pitching change. Gonzalez would later score on Nick Hundley’s fielder’s choice to bring them within two. But Miguel Tejada would get stranded on third base when Will Venable grounded out to second baseman Dan Uggla to end the game.

August 1^st, 2010 Padres 5 Marlins 4

WP John Garland (10-7) 6IP 5H 3R 3ER 3BB 6K 1HR

LP Josh Johnson (10-4) 5.67IP 7H 5R 5ER 4BB 5K 0HR

S Heath Bell (30) 1IP 2H 1R 1ER 1BB 0K 0HR

The Padres continued their dominance over Cy Young candidate Josh Johnson beating him for the second time this season, accounting for one half of his losses. Sunday’s victory over Florida prevented the sweep and the Padres first game three game losing streak.

Johnson was touched up for two runs in the bottom of the first beginning with Adrian Gonzalez’s two out single. Miguel Tejada then walked to bring up Yorvit Torrealba. Yorvit lined a double to left scoring both runners to give the Friars a two-run lead. Will Venable walked before Scott Hairston struck out swinging to end the inning.

Ronnie Paulino had an RBI single in the second after Cody Ross advanced to third on a Jon Garland throwing error on a pickoff attempt to first base. Hanley Ramirez hit a solo shot in the next inning to tie the game.

In the top of the sixth inning Jon Garland walked Dan Uggla before he advanced to second on Cody Ross’s groundout. After a passed ball advanced him to third, he score when Wes Helms singled to give Florida a 3-2 advantage.

But the Padres thundered back immediately when Torrealba singled to start the bottom half followed by a Venable walk. Trying to advance both runners Scott Hairston popped out to the pitcher on a bunt attempt advancing nobody. That’s when Bud Black sent Ryan Ludwick out to make his Padres debut, pinch-hitting for Tony Gwynn. Acquired on Saturday from St. Louis in a three player deal, Ludwick singled to load the bases. Chris Denorfia then came in for Garland and scored Torealba on a sac fly to tie the game. Hairston Jr then doubled to left scoring Venable and a sliding Ludwick to take a 5-3 lead for the Padres.

Ronnie Paulino doubled with one out in the ninth followed by a Hanley Ramirez walk. With two outs, closer Heath Bell gave up a Logan Morrison single scoring Pailino and advancing Ramirez to third. But Gabby Sanchez lined out to right with runners at the corners to give Bell his 30^th save of the year, 2^nd in the National League.