Marlins End Losing Skid

Brian Meadows picked up his pace and slowed the San Diego Padres’ bats.

With Tony Gwynn and Ken Caminiti out because of injuries, San Diego could manage only nine singles off Meadows and two more against Vic Darensbourg and Brian Edmondson as the Florida Marlins ended their five-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 6-0 victory over the Padres.

“This had to go down as one of the worst games we put together,” San Diego Manager Bruce Bochy said. “It looked like we were in a fog here tonight.”

Meadows (10-9) sped up his normally slow delivery and benefited from good defense behind him, including a diving stop by second baseman Luis Castillo that was turned into an inning-ending double play in the seventh.

Meadows, 0-3 with an 11.68 earned-run average in his last three starts, walked none and struck out two in seven innings to win 10 games for the first time in his pro career.

“I’m very proud of it,” said Meadows, who owns the Florida record for wins by a rookie.

Mike Redmond’s single ignited Florida’s four-run fifth inning and his second major league homer in the sixth off of Sterling Hitchcock (7-5) extended the Marlins lead to 6-0.