D-Backs give NL West lead to Padres, 3-1

SAN DIEGO - The Diamondbacks were almost dismissive in addressing the NL wild-card race during their recent run to the top of the NL West, which they led by a season-high five games 11 days ago.

D-Backs notebook: Rotation altered for S.D. series

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It is no longer something to overlook.

The D-Backs dropped into second place for the first time this month, percentage points behind San Diego, in losing their third straight game here Wednesday, 3-1, and now have greater concerns than just the Padres entering the final 28 games of the season.

Philadelphia has closed to within three games of the D- Backs and Padres for the wildcard berth, while Los Angles is 3 1/2 games back.

“We have to take them for what they are, three losses against a team we came in here knowing we had to battle with,” said Chris Young, whose RBI double in the third inning provided the D-Backs’ only scoring.

“They’re doing the same thing. They’re finding ways to get wins. We’re going have to find a way to win. That’s the way the game is sometimes. We’re fine. We’re going to throw this in the back of our minds, like we did the last two.”

San Diego won for the seventh time in eight games with two runs in the eighth inning, Brian Giles’ single off Doug Slaten preceding Mike Cameron’s tiebreaking double and Adrian Gonzalez’s RBI single off Brandon Lyon.

Relief pitcher Heath Bell instead of Hell’s Bells — Trevor Hoffman was given a night off — capped the D-Backs’ frustration with a 1-2-3 ninth.

The D-Backs (74-60) led the NL West by at least one game every day since Aug. 1, but came back to the Padres (73-59) by getting only six runs and 21 hits in the first three games of the series.

The D-Backs are hitting .100 (2-for-20) with runners in scoring position in a series that ends tonight. They were 1-for-8 Wednesday.

“That’s part of the game, but you don’t want it to happen three games in a row,” Young said.

“We’ve gone through periods like this before,” manager Bob Melvin said.

“Now we have to win a game tomorrow. We have to keep our heads up and keep battling the way we have all year.”

Micah Owings outpitched a man he grew up watching and for whom he has great respect, Greg Maddux, giving up one run and three hits in seven innings while striking out six.

Owings retired the final 13 batters he faced, and 21 of the last 24. Giles’ home run in the third was the only run he allowed, seemingly gaining momentum after loading the bases in the first before striking out the side.

“That was probably the best command he has had all year,” said Melvin after watching Owings throw first-pitch strikes to the first 10 batters he faced, and to 19 of his 27.

“It’s nice to have a game like this (but) it’s another tough loss,” Owings said.

Maddux, who won four Cy Young awards while pitching for Atlanta when Owings was growing up an hour away, gave up eight hits in seven innings and struck out five. He still has not beaten the D-Backs since September, 2000.

“He made pitches when he had to,” Melvin said. Maddux also saved a run in the third when Justin Upton tried to score from third on a chopper between third base and the plate. Maddux speared the ball as Upton broke for the plate and threw him out.

“That’s why he’s won all those Gold Gloves,” Melvin said.