The Padres took two of three from the Cincinnati Reds, taking control of the Wild Card spot and remaining just a half a game out of first place of the NL West. The Padres won the first series of their seven-game, season-ending home stand. They have four games left against the Chicago Cubs before finishing the season with three games in San Francisco. Here is a game by game analysis of their important series against the Reds.

September 24^th, 2010 Padres 4 Reds 3

WP Luke Gregerson (4-7) 1.33IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 2K 0HR

LP Arthur Rhodes (4-4) .33IP 1H 2R 2ER 1BB 0K 0HR

S Heath Bell (44) 1IP 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 1K 0HR

Miguel Tejada shined the spotlight after delivering a huge clutch hit, winning the game on a full-count, two-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the seventh to gib=ve the Friars the lead. Tejada knocked in three of four Padres runs in the game.

The win brought San Diego within a half game of both the San Francisco Giants for the division lead and the Atlanta Braves for the Wild Card. The Braves lost to the Nationals earlier while the Giants bested the Rockies.

Heath Bell earned his 44^th save in 47 tries. He surrendered a leadoff single to Ryan Hanigan to bring up NL MVP candidate Joey Votto as a potential go ahead run. But Votto struck out and Bell retired the next two hitters for the win.

Ardolis Chapman threw a pitch recorde 105 mph on the radar gun, which set a MLB record. He threw 25 pitches, all over 102 mph.

September 25^th, 2010 Padres 4 Reds 3

WP Heath Bell (6-0) 1IP 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 0K 0HR

LP Ardolis Chapman (1-2) 1IP 1H 1R1ER 1BB 1K 0HR

Chris Denorfia got a late opportunity and took full advantage, hitting a game winning doublr in the bottom of the ninth to put the Padres back in first place. Denorfia had been limited lately, due to the hot hitting by Will Venable and the return of Tony Gwynn Jr. He soked one down the line past a diving Scott Rolen into th left field corner. Chase Headleyslid into home just ahead of the relay throw for the victory.

Joey Votto had two RBI’s with a single in the first and a game tying homer in the fifth.

Chase Headley and Nick Hundley knocked in a run apiece in the second. Will Venable homers in the third to take an early 3-2 led.

The win coupled with losses by the Padres and Giants put them up a half of a game ahead of the Giants, who were now tied with the braves for the Wild Card.

September 26^th, 2010 Padres 2 Reds 12

WP Homer Bailey 7IP 5H 2R 2ER 1BB 2K 2HR

LP Clayton Richard 5IP 5K 6R 6ER 4BB 5K 2HR

Homer Bailey dominated the Padres for seven innings and got plenty of run support for a 12-2 victory on Sunday.

The Padres took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second with solo homers from Adrian Gonzalez and Yorvit Torealba.

The Reds took the lead for good on Chris Heisey’s bases loaded double, scoring all three baserunners. Brandon Phillips had a two run homer in the sixth.

The Reds added six more in the sixth bringing their magic number to one.