Gaudin allows 1 hit over 8 scoreless innings, Padres beat Texas for 1st series win in month

Gaudin’s 8 shutout IP lead Padres over Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas — Chad Gaudin allowed one hit over eight scoreless innings and Scott Hairston snapped an 0-for-17 slide with a homer for San Diego as the Padres won their first series in a month with a 2-0 victory Sunday night over the stumbling Texas Rangers.

Gaudin (4-6), signed by the Padres after being released by the Chicago Cubs the first week of the season, gave up a single to Michael Young in the first inning. The right-hander then retired 23 of the last 25 batters he faced, including the last 13.

No opposing pitcher had allowed only one hit over at least eight innings at Rangers Ballpark, which opened in 1994. Gaudin struck out nine and walked two.

Heath Bell worked the ninth for his National League-best 21st save, matching Brian Fuentes of the Los Angeles Angels for the major league lead. Bell walked Young before Andruw Jones grounded into a game-ending double play.

Hairston was 2 for 21 since returning from the disabled list until his solo homer in the fourth off rookie Tommy Hunter (0-1). Two innings later, Hairston had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead, then added a double after that to finish 3 for 4 and push his batting average to .310.

Gaudin is suddenly pitching like an ace for a Padres staff that has six right-handers on the disabled list, including starters Jake Peavy and Chris Young.

He threw 101 pitches in a game that started when it was 99 degrees. It was still in the mid-90s when he threw his last pitch to finish the eighth.

In his previous start Tuesday at Seattle, Gaudin tied a career high with 11 strikeouts and allowed two runs over seven innings. That victory came after he started June 0-3, giving up 17 runs over 14 innings in three starts.

The Rangers were held scoreless for the fourth time this season, and had only one hit for the second time. It was only the second shutout for San Diego.

Texas has lost seven of 10 games, and dropped out of first place in the AL West for the first time since May 5 after a 7-3 loss to the Padres on Saturday night. The Rangers are now 1½ games behind the Angels, who open a three-game series in Texas on Monday.

San Diego hadn’t won a series since taking two of three from Arizona on May 25-27. They had lost six series and split two others before this weekend.

Hunter scattered seven hits over 6 1-3 innings, allowing two runs in his second fill-in start for Texas this season.

The 22-year-old left-hander, drafted only two seasons ago, was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to start after left-hander Matt Harrison was put on the disabled list Sunday with left shoulder inflammation.

NOTES: Before going on the disabled list June 3 because of a strained left biceps, Hairston homered in three consecutive games. He has nine homers. … Rangers RF Nelson Cruz, 1 for 22 his last five games, was held out of the lineup for the second consecutive day. Manager Ron Washington says he just felt Cruz looked a bit fatigued and need an extended break. “It’s mental more than anything,” Washington said. … There were about 300 dogs in the stands as part of a promotion that allowed fans to bring their dogs. Among them was Reveille, a collie that is the official mascot of Texas A&M University. … Padres RHPs Cha Seung Baek (strained right forearm) and Luke Gregerson (strained right shoulder) will have bullpen sessions Monday.