San Francisco – Just when it seemed the San Diego Padres were sinking in the season’s final week, Brian Giles provided a big boost with one powerful swing.
Giles hit a go-ahead, three- run homer with two out in the ninth, and the Padres ended a four-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.
The victory gave San Diego a one-game lead over Philadelphia and Colorado in the wild-card standings after the Phillies lost 10-6 to Atlanta. And the Padres also pulled within two games of NL West-leading Arizona, which lost 6-5 at Pittsburgh.
Giles, who was in a 4-for-52 slump, hit his 12th home run of the season off closer Brian Wilson (1-2) and it spoiled another strong outing by Giants starter Matt Cain. Wilson also allowed Brady Clark’s bloop RBI single.
Barry Bonds was held out of his 10th straight game with a sprained right big toe – and the slugger has one more chance tonight to play for a final time in front of his home fans.
BRAVES 10, PHILLIES 6 at Philadelphia: Mark Teixeira hit a three-run homer and Chipper Jones had a two-run shot, helping Atlanta keep its slim playoff hopes alive.
The Phillies dropped one game back in the NL wild-card race behind San Diego and stayed two games behind the East-leading Mets. The Phillies and Mets have five games remaining.
“Our team knows what they have to do,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “We’ve been coming back all year, scratching and clawing. We’ll keep playing.”
Jimmy Rollins hit a solo homer to become the second player in team history with 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in one season. Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Chase Utley also connected for the Phillies.
Atlanta (83-74) has won 9-of -11 and needs to keep winning.
“We know what we have to do. We have to win,” manager Bobby Cox said. “We’ll give it our best shot.”
