Maddux shines

Just when I thought Greg Maddux was struggling to find something left, he comes out and pitches a beauty of a game - going the distance and giving up one run in the ninth when the game was already over.

A lot had been made about the recent over use of the bullpen and nothing is better at solving that problem than having your No. 4 starter go all nine innings. Now if David Wells could follow that up with a gem of his own, the entire team might find some consistency and be able to build some momentum.

But here come the big but - every time the Padres have had a stretch like this reality has come crashing down. So here's to defying recent history and finally meeting expectations.