Wells bars Schmidt from No. 13
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 outpitched Jason Schmidt during a 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 winning streak at 12 games, beating the San Francisco Giants 9-4 at San Francisco.
Schmidt (12-3) has been the National League’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.
“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 consecutive games last season, and he fell four victories short of Jack Sanford’s franchise record, set in 1962.
Wells (6-5) allowed four runs, 10 hits and an unusual two walks, but still moved to better than .500 for the first time this season with his fourth straight victory.
Ortiz, Zambrano slapped with 5-game suspensions
Boston slugger David Ortiz and Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano were suspended for five games each for their recent actions in separate games.
Cubs pitcher LaTroy Hawkins got a three-game suspension from another game.
Ortiz plans to appeal his penalty, which was set to start tonight against the New York Yankees. He will be able to play until a hearing is held.
The suspensions for Zambrano and Hawkins are scheduled to begin today. All three players also were fined undisclosed amounts by Bob Watson, vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball.
Ortiz became upset after being called out on strikes by umpire Hollowell last week at Anaheim.
Zambrano was penalized for intentionally hitting St. Louis’ Jim Edmonds with a pitch Monday.
On Tuesday, Hawkins gave up a tiebreaking homer in the ninth to the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols. Hawkins was ejected after he started yelling at home plate umpire Tim Tschida, and the reliever had to be restrained by manager Dusty Baker and several Cubs coaches.
Red Sox face more than one challenge
Boston can’t afford to obsess about the Yankees coming to town this weekend. The Red Sox have bigger problems to worry about.
The third-place Tampa Bay Devil Rays are 6 1/2 games behind — closer to the Red Sox than their 8 1/2 -game deficit with the Yankees. Boston is in a tight A.L. wild-card race with Oakland and Chicago.
“The front office put together a real good ballclub,” outfielder Johnny Damon said after Boston lost to Baltimore 8-3 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. “We need to find that team real soon before it’s gone.”
Things in Boston are a lot different than the last time the Yankees visited. Derek Jeter was slumping, Alex Rodriguez was trying to get acclimated to New York and the Red Sox won six of their first seven games against the Yankees. But soon after a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium, Boston began a prolonged stretch of .500 play.
•Yankees captain Jeter missed his second consecutive game because of a small break in his right hand and probably won’t play tonight at Boston.
Clearing the bases
Left-hander Jesus Sanchez refused a demotion to the Cincinnati Reds’ Triple-A team, opting to become a free agent. … The Florida Marlins traded pitcher Darren Oliver to the Houston Astros for a player to be named or cash. Oliver was 2-3 with a 6.44 ERA in 18 games this year, including eight starts. … Right-hander Jamey Wright rejoined the Colorado Rockies, one day after he was released by the Kansas City Royals. He went 8-6 with a 4.21 ERA in 18 starts for the Royals’ Triple-A Omaha (Neb.) farm club this year. … White Sox right fielder Magglio Ordonez was sent back to Chicago for tests on his left knee, still sore nearly two months after he had surgery.