Hamilton Red-Hot, Wins Sixth in Row

Craig Shipley doubled to break a 3-3 in the seventh inning and Joey Hamilton won his sixth consecutive decision Wednesday as the San Diego Padres defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 6-3.

The Padres remained 9 1/2 games behind San Francisco in the National League West after winning for only the second time in eight games.

Ken Caminiti and Steve Finley hit solo homers off Cincinnati starter Kent Mercker as the Reds lost for the 13th time in 18 games. Caminiti also walked with the bases loaded and had one of four sacrifice flies in the game.

Tony Gwynn went 0 for 3 with two of walks, ending his hitting streak at 14 games and dropping his average to .387. Gwynn has also had hitting streaks of 20 and 19 games this season.

Hamilton (10-3) blew a three-run lead before the Padres scored three times in the seventh, extending the best winning streak of his career. Hamilton is 6-0 with three no-decisions in his last nine starts.

The right-hander gave up three runs--all on sacrifice flies--and six hits over seven innings. Tim Worrell retired pinch-hitter Mike Kelly on a fly ball with the bases loaded in the eighth, and Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 32 chances.

Reliever Stan Belinda (1-3), pitching on his 31st birthday, gave up a single to John Flaherty to lead off the seventh, followed by a sacrifice by Hamilton and a walk to Finley.

Shipley then doubled to center for a 4-3 lead, and Gwynn was intentionally walked to load the bases. Belinda walked Caminiti to force in another run, and Greg Vaughn hit into a run-scoring forceout.

Caminiti led off the second inning with his 13th homer and Finley opened the third with his team-leading 21st homer. Finley has four homers at Cinergy Field this season, with three coming in a game May 19.

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NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERS

WHO: Cincinnati Reds

WHERE: at Cincinnati

WHEN: Friday: 4:30 p.m., Saturday: 4 p.m., Sunday: 11:15 a.m.