Halsey’s Focus Delivers a Win

Brad Halsey’s approach to pitching is to never look back. What’s done is done. That can’t be controlled. The next pitch. Now that’s something else.

Pitching like somebody who has been around for a while instead of just starting out, Halsey weaved out of several early jams and threw seven shutout innings Tuesday night in Arizona’s 7-0 victory over the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

Manager Bob Melvin couldn’t say enough for the way the 24-year-old left-hander went about his business.

“Halsey was magnificent again,” Melvin said. “Nothing bothers him. He’s focused on the next pitch. That’s all he cares about. He’s good at that.”

Halsey baffled Carlos Beltran and Mike Piazza, the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters in New York’s lineup. They each left five runners on base, four in scoring position.

“I think we helped him out there in a few situations, swinging at bad pitches,” Piazza said. “He had pretty good action on his pitches, down in the strike zone tonight. It was one of those nights.”

Jose Cruz Jr. gave Halsey (4-2) a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning with his sixth home run of the season and Craig Counsell delivered two runs with a two-out single in the sixth. Then the Diamondbacks put it away with three more runs in the seventh.

San Diego 8, Milwaukee 4 -- Geoff Blum hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth inning at San Diego and the Padres rallied for their 22nd victory in May.

The Padres set a team record with their 11th straight home win, and won their sixth straight overall. They haven’t lost at Petco Park since a 5-2 defeat by Arizona on May 1. San Diego was 22-6 in May, setting the club record for victories in a month.

Washington 5, Atlanta 4 -- Nick Johnson hit a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh inning, and the Nationals scored all of their runs against relievers in a victory at Washington.

The Nationals’ third straight victory after a season-worst five-game losing streak moved them within 1 1/2 games of first in the NL East. It also improved Washington to 5-2 against Atlanta this season.

Colorado 2, St. Louis 1 -- Jason Jennings became the winningest pitcher in Coors Field history, giving up one run over seven innings at Denver as the Rockies ended a four-game losing skid.

Dustan Mohr and Todd Greene hit back-to-back homers in the fourth to give Jennings (3-6) the runs he needed to win his 25th game at Coors, passing Pedro Astacio.

Houston 4, Cincinnati 3 -- Brandon Backe remained unbeaten at home as a starter and sparked a two-run fifth-inning rally to lead the Astros.

Backe (5-3) improved to 7-0 in nine career starts -- all Houston wins -- at Minute Maid Park. Backe, who broke into the starting rotation last season, is 8-1 at home in his career.

Philadelphia 5, San Francisco 2 -- Randy Wolf pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, and Chase Utley had a two-run single to lead the Phillies at Philadelphia. Wolf won his fourth straight decision, matching his win total for last season.

Pittsburgh 5, Florida 4 -- Daryle Ward hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Pirates withstood a shaky start by Oliver Perez to hand the Marlins their eighth consecutive loss at Pittsburgh.