Peavy Completes a 7-1 Victory Over the Reds

Jake Peavy threw a two-hitter, matching his career-best, and struck out 14 for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Cincinnati Reds, 7-1, on Saturday night to keep the lead in the National League wild-card race.

Rookie Josh Barfield hit a two-run homer, Mike Cameron had three hits and the Padres opened a one-game lead over Philadelphia.

Peavy (8-13) was brilliant in blowing through the Reds lineup, surrendering only Adam Dunn’s shot into the home-run porch down the right-field line with one out in the fourth and Rich Aurilia’s single to left leading off the eighth.

Right-handed Peavy looked liked his old self as he pitched his fifth career complete game. He had a complete game June 17, giving up four hits in a 3-2 loss at Anaheim. Peavy also threw a two-hitter May 25, 2005, at Arizona.

Peavy walked two Saturday. After giving up Dunn’s homer, he retired 10 straight before walking Edwin Encarnacion with two outs in the seventh.

It was the fourth time this season Peavy reached double-digits in strikeouts, and the 14th time in his career. He set the franchise record with 16 strikeouts against Atlanta on May 22, but lost 3-1.

Peavy has struggled this season because of shoulder tendinitis and lack of run support. His 13 losses are the most in his career, and he’s had an uncharacteristically high earned-run average -- it was 4.51 coming in. Peavy led the majors with a 2.27 ERA in 2004 and topped the NL with 216 strikeouts last year. His career ERA coming into this season was 3.33.

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ROUNDUP

San Francisco 4, at Chicago 2: Barry Bonds homered, and Ray Durham and Moises Alou hit consecutive home runs in the sixth for the Giants. Derrek Lee hit his fifth homer, against reliever Armando Benitez in the ninth, to cut the deficit to 4-2. It was Lee’s first homer since June 28.

Atlanta 4-4, at Philadelphia 3-16: Mike Lieberthal homered and drove in four runs, helping the Phillies split the doubleheader. In the first game, Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer against Arthur Rhodes in the ninth inning for the Braves. After starter Scott Mathieson left because of a strained right elbow after making one pitch to the second batter he faced, the offense made it an easy night for the relievers in the second game.

at Washington 7-4, Arizona 6-3: Austin Kearns and Ryan Zimmerman homered to lead the Nationals to a sweep of the day-night doubleheader. The Nationals rallied in both games to extend their winning streak over the Diamondbacks at RFK Stadium to five games. Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer, and Zimmerman’s bases-loaded walk in the 11th inning lifted the Nationals in the first game. It was the first time in franchise history the Nationals won consecutive games when trailing by two runs or more after eight innings.

New York 4, at Houston 2: Cliff Floyd had a double and drove in two runs in his return from the disabled list to back rookie John Maine’s strong pitching. Floyd had a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a run-scoring double in the ninth to help the Mets to their 13th win in the last 15 games. He had been out since Aug. 9 because of an Achilles tendon injury. Teammate Carlos Beltran injured a knee when he crashed into the left-field wall when making a catch on a fly ball in the ninth. He made the throw, went down and walked off with help after a few minutes.

Pittsburgh 1, at St. Louis 0: Shawn Chacon and two relievers combined on an eight-hitter, and Ronny Paulino hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. The Pirates have the worst road record in the major leagues at 18-50 but have won three of four on the road.

Florida 9, at Milwaukee 6: Alfredo Amezaga singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th for the Marlins, who extended the Brewers’ losing streak to nine games. Florida has won 11 of 13 to pull to within 1 1/2 games of the NL wild card.