Vaughn Homers Again in Victory

Greg Vaughn hit his 36th homer, a three-run shot, and Andy Ashby tied for the NL lead with his 14th victory as the San Diego Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 9-3, Wednesday night.

Vaughn, who also singled and scored twice, hit his sixth homer in nine games to give the Padres a 6-1 lead in the third inning. The Padres (66-35) won for the ninth time in 11 games to move 31 games above .500 for the first time in franchise history.

In his last nine games, Vaughn has gone 16 for 32 with 14 RBIs and 14 runs scored.

Wally Joyner also hit a three-run homer for the Padres, in the first off Willie Blair (4-14).

Blair, who has the most losses in the majors, gave up six runs and six hits before he was removed for a pinch-hitter in the fifth.

Ashby (14-5), who has won nine of his last 10 decisions, tied Atlanta’s Tom Glavine for the NL lead in victories.

Ashby gave up one run and five hits in six innings, struck out seven and walked one.

Arizona loaded the bases in the ninth with two out, but reliever Dan Miceli got Devon White on a groundout to second to end the game.

Jay Bell hit a solo homer and drove in all three Arizona runs.

Bell hit his 13th homer in the second to make the score 3-1. He added a two-run single in the eighth off reliever Scott Sanders.

After Ken Caminiti walked and Vaughn singled with two out in the first, Joyner hit his eighth homer just over the glove of center fielder White at the 405-foot sign.

Steve Finley hit a leadoff single in the third and Caminiti walked before Vaughn homered. Finley added a two-run double in the eighth.

With Karim Garcia’s double in the second, the Diamondbacks extended their streak with an extra-base hit to 87 consecutive games, currently best in the majors.

Tony Gwynn, who entered the game in an eight-for-48 slump, didn’t start. He pinch hit in the eighth inning and struck out.