Padres Get a Break and Win in 10th

Khalil Greene scored from second base when Scott Hairston botched a potential double-play ball with one out in the 10th inning Tuesday night at San Diego, giving the Padres a 2-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

With Greene on second and Sean Burroughs at first, Hairston tried to glove Mark Loretta’s chopper to second and tag Burroughs to start a double play, but the ball popped loose and rolled into shallow left, allowing Greene to score.

The Padres, who had a scoring chance in the ninth, started the winning rally when Greene was hit by a pitch from Mike Koplove (2-2) leading off the inning. The rookie was sacrificed to second by pinch-hitter Ramon Vazquez.

Trevor Hoffman (2-0) pitched a perfect 10th for the victory.

San Diego had runners on first and second with no outs in the ninth and failed to score, with the inning ending on a baserunning blunder by Phil Nevin, who was thrown out at home.

Nevin probably would have scored on Miguel Ojeda’s infield single to first had he slid, but he tried to barrel over catcher Robby Hammock, who held onto the throw from Shea Hillenbrand for the out.

Brian Giles and Nevin drew consecutive walks from Brandon Villafuerte to open the ninth, but Kerry Robinson’s bunt fell right in front of the plate, allowing Hammock to force Giles at third. Jay Payton flied out, bringing up Ojeda.

It was only the fifth victory in 14 games for the Padres, who won consecutive games for the first time since June 5-6 against Milwaukee. Arizona lost its fifth in a row and seventh in eight games.

Padres starter Adam Eaton didn’t allow a baserunner past second base in seven scoreless innings.

Nevin gave the Padres a 1-0 lead in the first with a two-out double off knuckleballer Steve Sparks.

It was Sparks’ third no-decision in a row against San Diego, despite giving up only four earned runs in 19 2/3 innings.

Chicago 5, St. Louis 4 -- Aramis Ramirez hit a two-out, two-run double off closer Jason Isringhausen in the eighth inning at St. Louis as the Cubs won for the ninth time in 10 games.

Milwaukee 6, Colorado 2 -- Javier Lopez broke a seventh-inning tie when he hit consecutive batters with the bases loaded as the Brewers won at Milwaukee. Larry Walker returned to the Rocky lineup after missing the first 68 games.

Houston 5, Pittsburgh 4 -- Roy Oswalt pitched eight solid innings, Morgan Ensberg hit a tiebreaking triple in the seventh, and the Astros rallied for victory for the second game in a row at Houston.

Florida 4, Atlanta 3 -- Pinch-hitter Lenny Harris walked and scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning at Miami as the Marlins ended a three-game losing streak.

New York 7, Cincinnati 4 -- Mike Piazza hit a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning at New York as the Mets won their season-high fifth in a row.

Montreal 5, Philadelphia 2 -- Livan Hernandez doubled twice and got his first victory in five weeks to lead the Expos to victory at Montreal.