Major League Baseball

Padres 3, Reds 2

Published Apr. 14, 2011 3:32 a.m. ET

foxsports

Orlando Hudson more than made up for a botched bunt.

Hudson scored the tying run in the eighth inning and then hit a bases-loaded, opposite-field single with two outs in the ninth to give the San Diego Padres a 3-2 win against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night that prevented a three-game sweep.

The victory came less than 24 hours after the Padres had numerous chances Tuesday night before losing 8-2 in 11 innings. They had runners on second and third with none out in the eighth, then had the bases loaded in both the ninth and 10th. The Padres were 2 for 22 with runners in scoring position in the series.

''No matter how you get the win, it's a huge win after a tough couple of losses,'' Hudson said. ''That's a good team over there. They've got good pitching, they've got good hitting, they've got a good bullpen. They've got a lineup that can swing it. The MVP in their lineup, you can't get out. Everything you throw him, he hits.''

Hudson was referring to Joey Votto, the reigning NL MVP who had three hits to raise his average to .444.

With the score tied at 2, pinch-hitter Brad Hawpe started the winning rally with a one-out walk before advancing to third on Nick Hundley's hit-and-run single to right. Will Venable was intentionally walked to get to Jason Bartlett, who was hitting just .133. Bartlett grounded to third baseman Juan Francisco, who threw to home for the force.

Hudson then hit the first pitch he saw from Nick Masset (0-3) over third baseman Juan Francisco's head and into left field for the win.

''He was the right guy in the right spot,'' said manager Bud Black, who was ejected in the fourth inning for arguing balls and strikes, and was replaced by bench coach Rick Renteria. ''He jumped on a first-pitch fastball.''

Masset has struggled so far this season.

''The ball is not going my way right now,'' he said. ''I'm just trying to do what I can to get people out.''

The Padres scored an unearned run without getting a hit in the eighth to tie it at 2. With Bartlett on second after a leadoff walk and a throwing error by reliever Aroldis Chapman, Hudson bunted but it rolled right to Chapman, who threw out Bartlett at third. Hudson stole second and took third on catcher Ryan Hanigan's throw into center for Cincinnati's second error of the inning. He scored on Jorge Cantu's chopper to third.

''Definitely I was frustrated. My manager asked me to get the bunt down. I didn't do my job. Also, I'm human, too. It's not going to happen 10 out of 10 times. But I was very frustrated,'' Hudson said. ''I had to some way, somehow, get to second base and get in scoring position for the big boys behind me. Once I saw the throw get through I got to third, but I still was frustrated by not getting that bunt down.''

Heath Bell (1-0) pitched the ninth for the win.

Votto had three hits for the Reds, including an RBI double.

San Diego's Tim Stauffer allowed only one hit through three innings before getting in trouble in the fourth and falling behind 1-0. Votto hit a leadoff single to left, advanced to third on Jonny Gomes' single to center and scored when Juan Francisco's grounder forced Gomes. Chris Heisey's double to left-center bounced over the fence, forcing Francisco to stop at third, and Ramon Hernandez was intentionally walked to load the bases before Stauffer retired the side.

''Kind of what cost us was the fact we had opportunities early in the game and didn't get anybody in,'' manager Dusty Baker said. ''Those things come back to haunt you. Plus, the late-inning walks hurt.''

The Reds made it 2-0 in the fifth when Votto doubled in Drew Stubbs, who hit a leadoff single to left and advanced on Brandon Phillips' grounder.

Wood struggled in the seventh, when he loaded the bases with one out by allowing singles to Chase Headley and Chris Denorfia, and walking Rob Johnson. Pinch-hitter Hundley hit a sacrifice fly to chase Wood. Jordan Smith came on and got the final out.

Wood allowed one run and five hits in 6 2-3 innings, struck out five and walked three. Stauffer went 4 1-3, allowing two runs and six hits, with four strikeouts and two walks.

NOTES: Black was ejected by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez as the top of the fourth inning ended for arguing balls and strikes. Black was yapping after Hernandez didn't call a strike on a 2-2 curveball to Wood. Hernandez did call a strike on the next pitch, then almost immediately ejected Black. Black came out and spoke with crew chief Joe West for a few minutes. ... Heisey made two nice catches in RF for the Reds, including a diving catch of Denorfia's fly ball along the line for the first out of the ninth, and a sliding basket catch of Cameron Maybin's fly ball for the final out of the fifth. ... Reds 2B Phillips came out in the bottom of the ninth. Baker said he hurt his leg but didn't have more specific information.