Henry Blanco's Two-Homer Game Leads Padres Past Giants

If you couldn't tell how much chemistry Jake Peavy has with catcher Henry Blanco, it was certainly evident last night.

The San Diego Padres' right-hander pitched 8 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out ten, not to mention he didn't walk a batter all night as Peavy would pick up his first win of the season in a 6-3 Padres' victory.

His catcher, former Cub Henry Blanco, wouldn't allow Jake to steal the show. With the game scoreless in the third inning, Blanco would get his first home-run of the season giving the Padres a 1-0 lead. In the home half of the 5th inning, game tied at 1-1, Blanco made sure Giants' starter Jonathan Sanchez remembered his name as Blanco sent a fastball into the upper deck in left field giving the Padres a 2-1 lead. Later that inning, with the bases loaded, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez gave the knockout punch with a bases clearing double for a 5-2 lead.

For Jake Peavy, it was his 28th career start in which he finished with double-digit strikeouts. You can also tell that Peavy enjoys the chemistry that he shares with his catcher. "I think communication is the big thing. I spent a lot of time talking about what I do to be successful. He's as good as anyone I've been with talking about before the game and going out and executing. We really do follow pitch-by-pitch what we want to do."

It also didn't hurt that the Padres gave Peavy the run support that they didn't give him in his first start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After their third straight win last night, the momentum is certainly there, it's how they carry it into each and every game that is going to be the most important. The rotation has been better than expected, the bullpen has given up just three runs in their 16 innings of work thus far and closer Heath Bell is 3-for-3 in save chances. Things are going the right way for this team, how the rest of the season goes is yet to be seen.

The San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres will be back at it again tonight from Petco Park. The Giants will have young ace Tim Lincecum on the hill tonight against Padres' right-hander Chris Young.

4-run first paces Padres 11-5 win over Giants

The Padres offense wasted no time getting to Giants young right-hander Tim Lincecum.

After a Jeff DaVanon single and Tad Iguchi getting hit by a pitch, Barrett would singled home Jeff DaVanon from 2nd for a 1-0 Padres lead. Tony Clark would single to load the bases but Lincecum got Greene and Ambres out on strikes, which set the stage for Chase Headley. He hammered a bases clearing double to center to extend the lead to 4-0. It was Headley's only hit of the day in 3 AB's but he made it count.

Also having big days for the Padres, offensively, were outfielders Jody Gerut and Paul McAnulty. Gerut hit his 2nd HR of the spring, a solo shot in the 7th inning off Giants' reliever Erick Threets. McAnulty his his 3rd of the spring, a 3-run blast off Brad Hennessey in the 8th inning.

On the pitching side, Chris Young didn't look nearly as sharp as he has his previous two outings, but I'm sure getting little sleep with a newborn in the house is a legitimate excuse. CY gave up 3 runs on 4 hits in 4 innings of work. Enrique Gonzalez, Cla Meredith and Joe Thatcher combined to no hit the Giants over the final 5 innings, striking out 4.

Up next for San Diego, they will travel to Mesa to take on the Chicago Cubs. Jason Marquis is scheduled to start for the Cubs, opposite Greg Maddux for San Diego. The Padres also have Wil Ledezma, Kevin Cameron and Mark Gardner scheduled to pitch tomorrow as well. Game time is 1:05pm.

Angels rough up Peavy, Padres 8-4

Jake Peavy started the 1st inning trying to work on the command of his fastball, but after giving up 4 runs on 4 hits to the Angels, he decided it was time he stopped fooling around.

The next 2 innings of work, he held the Angels hitless while striking out three. "I couldn't let some of those guys go to bed tonight thinking, 'Man, he's kind of flat,'" Peavy said.

Glendon Rusch had an impressive outing today, going 3 innings, giving up just 1 hit and striking out 4. His spring ERA is an impressive 1.35.

Offensively for the Padres, outfielder Jody Gerut hit his first HR of the spring, a solo shot in the 1st inning off starter Jered Weaver. Colt Morton also got his first of the Spring, a 3-run shot in the 8th inning off reliever Kasey Olenberger. Chase Headley finished his day going 1-for-3, his batting average currently sits at .409.

Up next for the Padres, they'll head to Scottsdale to take on the San Francisco Giants. The Padres will have 6'10" right-hander Chris Young on the mound against 2nd year right-hander Tim Lincecum. Game time is 1:05pm.