The Padres are not scoring runs like they want to, but they are scoring exactly how many they need to. Three straight wins by a score of 2-1 and the Padres have now won eight of their last 12 games.
Pitching has been the key to this mini hot streak, and Randy Wolf was no exception to that necessity. Especially when facing a pitcher the caliber of Johan Santana, when runs are hard to come by.
Wolf went seven innings, allowing the Mets just one run on seven hits. He walked two and struck out two.
Santana went six innings, also allowing seven hits but gave up two runs, just one earned. He struck out five while walking one. He made a crucial mistake in the unearned run however.
In the bottom of the sixth trailing 1-0, Scott Hairston led off with a double and Edgar Gonzalez was called on to move him up. Santana fielded the bunt and attempted to throw out Hairston at third. Brian Giles hit what looked like a double play ball, but the ball hit Gonzalez running to second and he was called out.
Adrian Gonzalez stepped in with one out and runners on first and third, and lined a single into center to tie the game. Kevin Kouzmanhoff fought off many pitches in a seven pitch at bat before singling to center and putting the Padres ahead and Wolf in the win column.
Trevor Hoffman picked up his 13th save working a scoreless ninth inning.
Hairston led the way for the Padres with three hits in the game.