Major League Baseball

Eckstein comes through in extras for Pads

Published May. 8, 2009 2:53 a.m. ET

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The San Diego Padres will take any win these days, even if they have to work extra to get it.

David Eckstein singled in the winning run with one out in the 10th inning and San Diego beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Thursday.

It was the second time in three games the Padres won in 10 innings, and just their fourth win in 17 games.

"It's really big for this club," Eckstein said. "Hopefully one day we'll win a game where it's not as close and as much pressure, but that seems like the only way we know how to win right now.

"This club has showed a lot of heart, especially in the tough times that we've been going through. We've just got to keep pushing forward."

Eckstein, who entered the game for defensive purposes in the top of the inning, lined a shot just past first baseman Josh Whitesell to bring in Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Kouzmanoff started the winning rally with a one-out double to left-center off Esmerling Vasquez (0-1), his third straight hit. Nick Hundley and Chris Burke, who was with Arizona last year, walked to load the bases and bring up Eckstein.

"You enjoy being in that role," Eckstein said. "I was very disappointed last night not coming through in that situation. So having the opportunity to make up for it was nice. I was just trying to put the ball in play and luckily found a hole."

Eckstein came up with runners on second and third and one out in the fifth Wednesday night, but flied to right and watched as Henry Blanco was thrown out at home by Justin Upton to end the inning. San Diego lost 3-1.

Cla Meredith (4-0) pitched a perfect 10th to earn the win on Thursday.

San Diego loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth but the threat ended when Whitesell made a leaping grab of Brian Giles' line drive.

Upton doubled and singled to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.

Right-hander Dan Haren had a hand in the Diamondbacks taking a 2-0 lead in the third. Attempting to sacrifice with Chris Snyder on first, the two-time All-Star bunted foul and took a called strike before hitting an RBI double down the left-field line. Haren advanced on shortstop Chris Burke's error and scored on Felipe Lopez's sacrifice fly.

San Diego tied it with two in the fifth when four straight batters reached with two outs, including Edgar Gonzalez and Scott Hairston with consecutive RBI singles. San Diego right-hander Chris Young drew a two-out walk to start the rally.

"I was cruising along, pitch-count wise," Haren said. "Then I really had to work hard in the fifth and sixth inning. I started getting a little tired."

Eric Byrnes hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the sixth to give the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead before the Padres tied it again when Nick Hundley doubled in Kouzmanoff.

Haren, who had won three straight starts, allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings. His ERA went from 1.47 to 1.84, fourth-best in the majors.

"It looked like he hit a little bit of a wall," manager Bob Melvin said.

"We scored some runs early and we had our ace on the mound," Melvin said. "We just didn't respond after they scored a couple of runs."

Young also went six innings, allowing three runs and five hits while striking out six and walking four.

"We spotted them a lead, but C.Y. hung in there and our guys fought back," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It was a great comeback against an All-Star pitcher, and the bullpen did a nice job with four scoreless innings."

Notes

San Diego closer Heath Bell hasn't allowed a run in 11 2-3 innings in 11 appearances this season. He pitched a perfect ninth to keep the game tied at 3. ... Arizona's Mark Reynolds struck out four times. ... Black said he's encouraged about OF Cliff Floyd, who's working his way back from shoulder and knee injuries. Black said Floyd, on the disabled list since opening day, will accompany the Padres on their six-game trip to Houston and Cincinnati and continue to rehab and work on his hitting. Floyd will DH and pinch-hit in minor league games if he continues to make progress.

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