SAN DIEGO -- The way the San Diego Padres have been struggling offensively, it seemed fitting the ball didnt leave the infield on the play that carried them to victory against the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks.
[b]Vernon Butler Jersey[/b] . Cameron Maybin reached base after an overturned umpires call, then scored on Yonder Alonsos slow grounder with one out in the ninth inning to give the Padres a 4-3 win Sunday that stopped a four-game losing streak. It was a perfect combination for the Padres -- the speedy Maybin at third base, left-hander Oliver Perez on the mound, one out and the infield in, a ball that went just the right distance and another winning challenge by manager Bud Black. Maybin broke for home as Alonso hit a dribbler down the first-base line. Paul Goldschmidt barehanded it and threw home, but Maybin had already slid across with the winning run. "With a lefty pitcher there, Im able to get a little bit bigger lead than usual," said Maybin, who was reinstated from the disabled list a week earlier. "And it was just a situation, man, where if it was a line drive I probably was going to get doubled up. I was going on the swing even more so than contact, so it worked out. It was probably the shortest RBI he ever had." Said Alonso: "It could have gone 10 feet, and Cam would have scored. I know with Cam running, anythings possible in this game. My approach the whole time was just get it done. Whatever you do, dont strike out. Put the ball in play." Even with all the factors turning out right, Black said it was "a pretty standard procedure in that situation, game-winning run. Worse-case scenario is out at home, then you still have first and third with two outs. The proper grounder was hit, where it was not smoked, Cam had a good secondary lead, reacted to the swing in the hitting area as instructed, and beat the play." Maybin started the winning rally with a chopper to second off Perez (0-1). He initially was called out, but Black challenged and the call was changed to safe, giving Maybin an infield single and making Black 2 for 2 in challenges Sunday and 4 for 4 this season. Rene Rivera, who earlier hit a two-run double, doubled over right fielder Gerardo Parra to move Maybin to third. "I wasnt a big fan at first," Maybin said of the new replay system. "But it worked out." Said Black: "Those are close plays. In 2014, thats the beauty of replay, the technology." The Padres scored their most runs in five games. "It was huge, man," Maybin said. "You never want to get swept in a series. Weve been playing some really tough, close games. We continue to compete, continue to play hard. Its good after making so many errors. We were very fortunate to get the win today." San Diego committed three errors. Huston Street (1-0) pitched the ninth for the win. Arizona entered the series with the worst record in the majors at 9-22 and the worst ERA in the majors at 5.20. After being held to five runs in their previous four games, the Padres scored first for the first time in five games. Chris Denorfias two-out single in the third brought in rookie Jace Peterson, who was hit on the hand with a pitch. That snapped a streak of 20 scoreless innings by Diamondbacks pitchers. Arizona went ahead 3-1 in the fourth. Goldschmidt hit a leadoff homer off Tyson Ross into the sandy play area beyond the fence in right-centre, his fifth. With two outs, shortstop Everth Cabrera misplayed a grounder by Cody Ross for an error. Rookie Ender Inciarte singled to left and Tuffy Gosewich brought them both in with a single to centre. San Diego tied it in their half of the inning when Rivera hit a two-out, two-run double into the left-field corner off lefty Wade Miley. "They gave me three runs, then I give them right back," Miley said. "We scored runs, then I give them more. Thats huge. To get two outs, and then I let them back in." Ross allowed three runs, one earned, on seven hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked one. Miley gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings, struck out four and walked one. Black challenged a ruling that Chris Owings was safe on a grounder with two outs in the eighth. After review, Owings was called out. NOTES: Padres 3B Chase Headley will start a rehab assignment at Class A Lake Elsinore on Monday. Hes on the disabled list with a strained right calf. ... The Padres continue a 10-game homestand with a three-game series against Kansas City starting Monday night. The scheduled starters are Royals RHP Yordano Ventura (2-1, 1.50 ERA) against Padres lefty Eric Stults (1-3, 5.34). ... The Diamondbacks continue their road trip by opening a three-game set at Milwaukee. Mike Bolsinger (1-1, 5.79) is scheduled to start for the Diamondbacks against Matt Garza (1-3, 5.00).
[b]Dontari Poe Jersey[/b] .C. -- Benn Ferrieros familiar with scoring important goals, just not in back-to-back games.
[b]James Bradberry Jersey[/b] . -- Each time the Utah Jazz threatened Memphis lead, the Grizzlies responded with defensive stops. HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets recently have developed a knack for playing great in the third quarter. Coach Kevin McHale loves what his team has been doing after the break and wishes they could find that intensity early in games. James Harden tied a season high with 38 points, Dwight Howard added 20 points and 13 rebounds and the Rockets used a big third-quarter run to earn a 113-99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. Howard got his first win against his former team as the Rockets sent the injury-riddled Lakers to their third straight loss. "We did a better job in the second half of defending," McHale said. "It was a big difference in the game." The Rockets trailed by a basket in the third quarter before going on a 17-2 run to take an 80-67 lead and roll to victory. Harden hopes they can find a way to play better early when they leave Houston for a long road trip on Thursday. "At the beginning of the game ... we have to come out with a sense of urgency," he said. "We cant put ourselves in situations like that because on the road these four games anything is possible and if we do that, some games we might not be able to come back." Harden continued his recent torrid scoring with his third straight 30-point game. He has piled up 113 points in the last three games combined. Nick Young scored 25 points to lead Los Angeles and Pau Gasol and Jodie Meeks scored 21 each. Ronnie Brewer started for the first time this season in place of the injured Chandler Parsons, who was out with a sore right knee. Howard made a season-high four steals, Harden collected a season-best five steals, and Terrence Jones had 15 points and 13 rebounds. The Lakers had a two-point lead midway through the third quarter when Houston got rolling, scoring seven straight points thanks to a 3-pointer by Harden and back-to-back buckets by Howard to take a 70-65 lead. The second one brought the crowd to its feet when Harden swiped a bad pass from Kendall Marshall and tossed up an alley-oop that Howard finished with a monster two-handed slam. That spurt was the beginning of the 17-2 burst that extended Houstons lead to 80-67 with about two minutes left in the quarter. Haarden was on fire in that span, scoring nine points and drawing a collective "ooh" from the crowd when he crossed up rookie Ryan Kelly on a layup to cap it.
[b]Graham Gano Jersey[/b]. Los Angeles was as cold as Harden was hot, missing five shots and committing three turnovers while the Rockets built the lead. "We seem to run out of energy," Los Angeles coach Mike DAntoni said. "I dont know if they are getting tired or its just the other team turns on the burners." Howard spurned the Lakers to sign an $88 million deal with Houston, joining Harden and a team that made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009. He admitted after practice Tuesday that he was ticked off that Los Angeles came out on top in the first meeting earlier this season. The centre missed several key free throws down the stretch in that one, a one-point win by the Lakers in November when they employed the Hack-A-Howard strategy. They were down by 14 points when they used that approach again Wednesday night, fouling him every time Houston got the ball for a two-minute span ending with about two minutes left. "Its nothing I like," DAntoni said. "It makes an ugly game, but were trying to get a win." Howard made just six of 14, but Houstons lead was so big this time it didnt matter. He finished 10 of 24 from the free throw line. "I was upset at myself for missing all those," Howard said. "I just have to get better at it." He wouldnt acknowledge that this win meant any more than beating any other team. But said it was important for the team to win in general to get going for the road trip. The Lakers, who are missing Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Jordan Farmar and Steve Blake with various injuries, lost for the ninth time in 10 games. Houston opened the second half with a 9-3 run to take a 61-60 lead with about 8 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. Jones scored the last four points of that run. The Lakers led 57-52 at halftime. NOTES: Houston C Omer Asik missed his 17th straight game right thigh and knee injuries. ... Houstons Greg Smith sat out with a sprained right knee. ... New Houston Texans coach Bill OBrien watched the game from a courtside seat.
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