SAN FRANCISCO -- David Wells hates day games, and he hates batting. He also didn't think much of umpire Matt Hollowell's strike zone.
Wells excelled Thursday despite all that -- and he even outpitched Jason Schmidt during an important victory for the San Diego Padres.
Jay Payton hit a three-run homer in San Diego's six-run third inning and the Padres snapped Schmidt's 12-game winning streak, beating the San Francisco Giants 9-4.
Wells (6-5) allowed four runs, 10 hits and an unusual two walks, but still moved above .500 for the first time this season with his fourth straight victory. Though the longtime AL left-hander still is profoundly uncomfortable with a bat in his hands, he drew a walk from Schmidt to start San Diego's decisive third-inning rally.
"Mentally, I knew what was in store for me," Wells said. "When you're going against one of the best pitchers in the game, you've got to be ready. He's not going to lose very often."
Schmidt (12-3) has been the NL's most dominant pitcher for most of the summer, leading the league in victories and hovering near the top of several other categories. But he was off from the outset in his worst start of the season, allowing nine hits, eight runs and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Giants manager Felipe Alou and Schmidt weren't pleased with Hollowell's calls, implying the umpire began to squeeze him after Wells complained earlier in the game.
"There was a lot of funny stuff going on," Schmidt said. "It was a mind-boggling afternoon. Every umpire has got his own zone, and you've got to adjust to it."
It was Schmidt's first loss in 17 starts since April 21, when the Padres beat San Francisco 11-0. He had the majors' longest winning streak since Toronto's Roy Halladay won 15 straight last season, and he fell four victories short of Jack Sanford's San Francisco record, set in 1962.
Rich Aurilia hurt his former teammates again with a two-run single for the Padres, who won their fourth straight and swept a two-game series with their fifth straight win over the Giants.
Mark Loretta also homered and had three hits, while Ryan Klesko added an RBI double as San Diego nudged a game ahead of San Francisco atop the NL wild card standings.
"Schmitty didn't have command of his fastball the way he normally does," Aurilia said. "But you can't fault Jason for anything. It just wasn't a good day for him, but it was a big day for us."
Pedro Feliz hit a two-run homer for the Giants, who lost their only two home games during a 15-game stretch.
Nothing was working for Schmidt on a gorgeous day on the San Francisco waterfront. He allowed two singles to open the game before striking out the side - but the Padres batted around in the third when Schmidt lost his control.
Wells started the rally by drawing a walk, and Terrence Long beat out an infield single with the bases loaded for San Diego's first run. Aurilia added his two-run single, and Payton followed with his third homer of the season on a letter-high pitch.
"I had decent stuff," Schmidt said. "I had a good idea out there, but I don't know what went wrong. They hit some good pitches. I've just got to figure out against these guys. They've been tough on me. It's a good lineup."
Aurilia went 3-for-4 with two doubles Wednesday night in his return against the Giants, who allowed him to leave last winter after 10 seasons in San Francisco. He was traded to the Padres on Monday after a frustrating stint with Seattle.
Wells, the majors' best control pitcher with just 0.7 walks per nine innings, spoke with Hollowell after Barry Bonds got a 3-1 count in the second inning and crushed the next pitch off the wall in right-center. Everybody in the park, including Bonds and Wells, thought the ball was headed out, but it missed becoming Bonds' 683rd homer by a few feet.
Feliz followed with his 14th homer of the season. Two batters later, Wells walked Dustan Mohr on four pitches -- just Wells' second walk in 10 starts.
Hollowell found controversy last week when Boston's David Ortiz became enraged over the umpire's balls and strikes. Ortiz is appealing a five-game suspension for his tantrum.
San Francisco loaded the bases in the fifth, but A.J. Pierzynski fouled out to catcher Humberto Quintero. The Giants chased Wells with two hits in the sixth, but Scott Linebrink got Feliz to fly out with the bases loaded.
"I wish I could go farther in the game," Wells said. "I'm getting embarrassed, because I'm not a five-and-die guy. That's not me, but I'm grateful for what the offense is giving me now."
Notes
- San Francisco stranded 13 runners -- including nine in four innings midway through the game.
- Wells got his first career victory over the Giants.
- Pierzynski grounded into two double plays, giving him 17 this season.
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