The Padres had only 17 hits and scored four runs in the four-game home finale against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park this week. Losing three, the Padres are faced with the improbable scenario of sweeping the Giants to force a “play-in” game with SanFrancisco for the division title.

They also trail the Braves by two in the wild card so they can still make the playoffs if they sweep the Giants, The Phillies (who have nothing to play for) sweep Atlanta and we lose the play-in game to San Francisco. There is still another scenario that would have the Padres sweep, Braves lose only two of three, The Padres losing the play-in game to SF, only having to play the Braves for another play-in game too.

Having said all of that the Padres must focus on beating their rival Giants in the series ahead. Though all seems lost, they are only a four-game win strea away from playoff Nirvana. Here's how the series unfolded for the Friars.

September 27^th, 2010 Padres 0 Cubs 1

WP Carlos Zambrano (10-6) 7IP 3H 0R 0ER 4BB 5K 0HR

LP Tim Stauffer (5-5) 7IP 5H 1R 1ER 1BB 5K 0HR

S Carlos Marmol (35) 1IP 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 2K 0HR

Carlos Zambrano dominated the Padres in the series opener of the Padres four game home series, striking out five while surrendering only three hits. He gave up no runs in spite of four walks. The Padres left nine runners on base for the game.

Blake DeWitt and Aramis Ramirez led the charge for Chicago going a combined six for eight, with three hits apiece. Dewitt singled to shallow center in the seventh scoring Alfonso Soriano for the game’s only run.

Carlos Marmol pitched out of a jam in the nnth for his 35^th save. After retiring the first two Friars, he gave up a single, hit a batter, and walked another to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Nick Hundley ran the count full before launching a drive that was caught just short of the warning track to end the game.

September 28^th, 2010 Padres 2 Cubs 5

WP Ryan Dempster (15-11) 7IP 4H 2R 2ER 2BB 9K 1HR

LP Mat Latos (14-9) 5.67IP 7H 4R 2ER 2BB 6K 1HR

S Carlos Marmol (36) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 1BB 1K 0HR

Mat Latos lost for his fourth straight start, his worst stretch of the season, after setting a major league record of 15 starts giving up two runs or less. His latest loss on Tuesday dropped the Padres to two games behind the Giants in the NL West with five to go.

The Cubs scored first in the fifth starting with Koske Fukodome’s RBI double. Fukodome came around to score on Miguel Tejada’s fielding error to put the Cubs up 2-0.

Nick Hundley hit a two run homer deep to left to tie the game I the bootom half of the same inning.

But in the top of the sixth, Alfonso Soriano would put the Cubs up for good with a two run homer to center field of Latos. He would add a solo shot off Mike Adams in the eighth to put the Cubs up 5-2 for the victory.

September 29^th, 2010 Padres 3 Cubs 0

WP Chris Young (2-0) 5IP 3H 0R 0ER 2BB 6K 0HR

LP Randy Wells (8-14) 7IP 6H 3R 3ER 4BB 2K 0HR

S Heath Bell (45) 1IP 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 1K 0HR

Chris Young got his first win since coming of the the disabled list, a huge onr to keep the Padres within two games of the Giants who beat the Diamondbacks Wednesday night. He combined with four Padres relievers for a four hit shutout.

Will Venable made two amazing home run-saving grabs. On his second he robbed Aramis Ramirez running about 25 yards before leaping out over the fence in the left center gap before crashng back down on the warning track, appearing t have missed the ball. But he popped up with the ball for the third out leaving Ramirez smiling and shaking his head.

Chase Headley batted in the first run off first baseman Xavier Nady’s foot with two out in the second. The ball ricocheted behind second base allowing Adrian Gonzalez to score from second base. Yorvit Torealba ended the inning trying to advance to third from first.

The Padres added another when Ryan Ludwick scored on a wild pitch in the fourth. Davis Eckstein doubled in Luis Durango in the fifth to put the Friars up 3-0.

The Padres bullpen was fantastic yielding just one hit after Chris Young exited to start the sixth. Luke Gregerson added to his MLB record with his 38^th hold. Mike Adams became number two on the all-time list an inning later with his 36^th hold of the season

Heath Bell came in and got his 45^th save in 48 tries adding to his career high.

WP Sean Marshall (7-5) 0.67IP 0R 0ER 0H 0BB 1K 0HR

LP Heath Bell (6-1) 1IP 2H 1R 1ER 0BB 1K 0HR

S Carlos Marmol (37) 1IP 0R 0ER 0BB 2K 0HR

In a must win for the Padres on their last home game before leaving to San Francisco, the Friars put up a goose egg on the scoreboard and fell to the Cubs putting them on the brink of playoff elimination.

With the Giants having already won earlier in the day, The Padres were hoping to stay within two games and gain a half game on the idle Braves. But the Padres offense sputtered again, collecting only three hits to lose 1-0 to the Cubs t bookend the four game series.

Jon Garland gave up just four hits in six and a third innings to keep the Padres where they needed to be. Luke Gregerson and Mike Adams kept it scoreless going into the ninth where manager Bud Black brought in his closer in the non-save situation.