SAN DIEGO - Rookie Tim Stauffer looks to win his third
consecutive start Sunday when the San Diego Padres conclude a
four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After winning his major league debut, Stauffer (3-4, 4.55 ERA)
failed to pick up a victory in his next eight starts before
defeating San Francisco on July 3. Five days later, he allowed
just two runs and five hits in seven innings of a 12-2 win over
Colorado at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
The Padres extended their lead in the National League West
Division to 7 1/2 games - thier biggest advantage since the
final day of the 1998 season - with Saurday's 4-1 triumph over
the second-place Diamondbacks.
Ryan Klesko, Damian Jackson and Khalil Greene each homered for
San Diego, which made the most of its five hits.
Jackson, whose starting spot may be in jeopardy with injured
infielders Mark Loretta and Phil Nevin slated to return next
week, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games. He
is 4-for-10 with four RBIs in the series.
Brad Halsey (5-7, 4.26) will try to end that streak. The
lefthander was in position to win for just second time in seven
starts July 8, yielding two runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings
before the bullpen faltered in a 4-3 loss to Cincinnati.