Maddux is masterful again for the Padres

DENVER -- Greg Maddux didn’t walk a batter for the eighth straight start and scattered three hits over six innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.

The win allowed the Padres to maintain their 2 1/2 -game lead over the Dodgers in the wild-card race. Colorado is four games behind San Diego.

Maddux (12-9) struck out three and won for the 345th time in his career. He’s in sole possession of ninth place on the all-time wins list.

Maddux hasn’t issued a walk in 54 1/3 innings, having faced 212 batters. The last base on balls he surrendered was to Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt in the second inning on July 28 at Houston.

Maddux, who won his fifth straight decision, holds the National League record with 72 1/3 innings without a walk in 2001. He also went 51 innings without a base on balls in 1995.

Kevin Kouzmanoff and Khalil Greene drove in runs for the Padres.