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Game 1: Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 7:10 pm PDT
Jake Peavy (16-6 2.43 ERA) vs Esteban Loaiza (2-0 2.49 ERA)
Scouting Report:
Padres: Pitching on three days' rest -- a request he made in order to face Arizona -- Peavy was thumped for eight runs in his shortest start (four innings) of the season as the D-backs knocked off the Padres, 9-6, at Chase Field on Sept. 5. Peavy missed on several close calls and the D-backs did a nice job in laying off several of those close pitches. He allowed two home runs in allowing the eight runs, tying the most he's allowed in his career. Peavy, a 16-game winner, is still considered the leading candidate to win the Cy Young Award. A victory over the Dodgers would certainly help him toward that end.
Dodgers: Loaiza wasn't overpowering in his debut, and he's not supposed to be, but he knew what to do with a lead and pitched seven innings in a win at Wrigley Field. Loaiza didn't have much of a fastball in the first inning, but the velocity increased and he kept the ball in the park while allowing three runs.
Game 2: Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 7:10 pm PDT
Justin Germano (7-9 4.38 ERA) vs Derek Lowe (11-12 3.80 ERA)
Scouting Report:
Padres: Germano struggled mightily with his command in his last start on Friday, allowing five runs on six hits in just three innings ?- his shortest start of the season. Germano missed high and missed wide early in that start against the Rockies, and when he did get the ball over the plate, the Rockies made him pay dearly for it, as Kazuo Matsui hit a two-run home run in the first inning. Germano has generally done a nice job of keeping the ball down in the strike zone. The home run to Matsui was just the first he?s allowed since July 31.
Dodgers: Lowe barely avoided a crushing loss at Wrigley Field on Thursday. He left with the lead but also two runners on base that scored on Alfonso Soriano's three-run homer off Jonathan Broxton. Lowe doesn't talk about his hip or groin injury, but he hasn't been the same pitcher since he suffered it in July. He's 3-6 since July 22 and he walked five in the Cubs game.
Game 3: Thursday, September 13th, 2007 7:10 pm PDT
Greg Maddux (12-9 3.68 ERA) vs Chad Billingsley (10-4 3.22 ERA)
Scouting Report:
Padres: Maddux won for the seventh time in his past eight starts, allowing one run over six efficient innings that saw the right-hander, who now has 345 career victories, need just 67 pitches to get him through his outing against the Rockies on Saturday. The Rockies managed just three hits off Maddux, who retired 13 of the final 14 batters that he faced, extending his streak of innings without a walk to 54 1/3 straight. Maddux got 12 groundouts during the game. "Greg was great. ... What is it ... 11 starts where he?s been great?? San Diego manager Bud Black said. "He was efficient throughout, moving it up and down, in and out."
Dodgers: Billingsley stepped up with another clutch start against the Giants, but the game unraveled on a Rafael Furcal error. Nonetheless, Billingsley was charged with only one earned run in six innings and had no walks for the second consecutive start. He faces the Padres, having tossed seven scoreless innings against them two starts back.