The Skinny: The San Diego Padres, a team not known for their offensive firepower, flexed their muscles Tuesday night against the frontrunner for the National League Cy Young Award. Highlighted by Brian Giles 3-run homer, the Padres scored 5 runs in the 3rd inning against Diamondbacks starter Brandon Webb in a 9-2 win at Petco Park. Kevin Kouzmanoff added a 2-run double in the decisive 3rd inning, and later tacked on another rbi double in the 6th inning that helped put the game out of reach for San Diego.

What happened?: Brandon Webb, who was trying to become the first 20-game winner in the National League since Dontrelle Willis of Florida did it in 2005, didn’t have his stuff. Webb allowed 9 hits and 6 runs in 4 2/3 innings and saw his record fall to 19-5 on the season. It was Webb’s first loss since June 22nd, when he lost to Minnesota.

Numbers: The Diamondbacks offense has been abysmal during this current 3-game losing streak. They have scored 6 runs and have totaled just 12 hits and have struck out a total of 28 times…the Diamondbacks’ bullpen continues to give up runs as Leo Rosales gave up 2 in the 7th and Jon Rauch allowed one in the eighth.

Repercussions: The Diamondbacks must be breathing easy that it is the Dodgers that are chasing them, because L.A. can’t get out of their own way. The Dodgers lost to Washington, of all teams, 2-1, and the Diamondbacks lead remains 3 games in the West. The Diamondbacks had to feel good about starting a series against a team that’s 30 games under .500 and with their two best pitchers throwing in the first two games. Well, they’ve lost both, and have squandered a huge opportunity to build their lead to 5 or 6 games.

MLB.com : Recap | Boxscore

Here’s what others are saying about the Diamondbacks’ 2nd straight loss to the Padres…

Padres rough up Webb, rout D-Backs [AZ Central]

Padres deny D-Backs’ Webb 20th victory [East Valley Tribune/AP]

Padres thump Arizona ace Webb [Sign On San Diego]

The 3-game series concludes Wednesday and the Diamondbacks will try to avoid the sweep sending left hander Randy Johnson to the mound in search of his 295th career victory. The Padres counter with Cha Seung Baek. First pitch is at 12:35 PM Arizona time.

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