Jackson's second home run of game the difference

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The super-subs saved the day, the series and the homestand for the San Diego Padres.

Damian Jackson hit a game-winning home run leading off the eighth inning, his second of the day and his fourth hit, as the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 5-4 on Sunday to take two of three games. He had three RBI, scored three times and stole a base.

Career Save Leaders* (Through June 26; x-active)
Lee Smith	478
x-John Franco	424
x-Trevor Hoffman	414
Dennis Eckersley	390
Jeff Reardon	367
x-Mariano Rivera	352
Randy Myers	347
Rollie Fingers	341
John Wetteland	330
x-Troy Percival	321
x-Roberto Hernandez	320
Rick Aguilera	318
Robb Nen	314
x-Jose Mesa	311
Tom Henke	311
Rich Gossage	310
Jeff Montgomery	304
Doug Jones	303
Bruce Sutter	300
*Saves became an official major league statistic in 1969

Xavier Nady homered for the third straight game, and Mark Sweeney added an RBI hit.

None are regular starters, but all have come up big for the Padres, who continue to lead the weak NL West despite several injuries and a streaky June.

Before the game, the Padres put first baseman Phil Nevin on the disabled list, where he joined catcher Ramon Hernandez and second baseman Mark Loretta, as well as their winningest pitcher, Adam Eaton. Center fielder Dave Roberts has missed two games with a sore left knee.

"When that happens, you need guys to go out there to get the job done, and that's what's happening right now," manager Bruce Bochy said. "These guys are really softening the blow of the huge losses we've had here, with their type of play. Jackson, Sweeney and Nady, they won the game for us."

Jackson, one of the last cuts of spring training, came up from Triple-A on May 3 after infielder Geoff Blum joined shortstop Khalil Greene on the DL. Jackson has seen most of his action at second base after Loretta strained his left thumb on May 18, requiring surgery.

Jackson's second homer, on a 3-1 pitch from Julio Mateo (2-3), broke a 4-4 tie. Jackson also hit his third career leadoff homer, off Joel Pineiro. He has three homers this year.

Jackson has played with seven big league teams, and is in his second stint with the Padres. He signed as a free agent in November after playing in just 21 big league games last year, with the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals.

"I'm just thankful to put the uniform on every day and help contribute anyway I can," Jackson said.

"We know Bruce Bochy's going to use his bench a lot. Unfortunately, we've had a lot of injuries and guys aren't able to play. We try to go out there and fill the void and try to make it seem as if we're not losing a beat, and we've been doing that lately."

It was the first multihomer game for Jackson, and the four hits tied his career high.

"It's awesome to have Damian have a breakout day because he's been battling his butt off and giving us energy since he's been here," Sweeney said.

"Damian Jackson just killed us," Seattle's Bret Boone said.

The Padres won for the sixth time in nine games after dropping 12 of their first 15 this month. They went 4-3 on the homestand.

Mariners rookie catcher Rene Rivera hit his first homer, a three-run shot off Woody Williams with two outs in the seventh that tied the game at 4.

"It was a great feeling," Rivera said. "I was trying to hit the ball to just get a base hit. When I hit the ball, I said: 'I've got a chance.' "

Williams said he left a slider out over the plate.

"I can't do that late in the game," Williams said. "It was just a bad pitch. Not taking anything away from him, but it was a great pitch to hit."

With the Padres leading 4-1, Williams allowed consecutive two-out singles to Bret Boone and Mike Morse before Rivera hit a 2-1 pitch into the seats in left.

Boone also homered off Williams, in the fifth. It was Boone's sixth.

Rudy Seanez (4-0) pitched the eighth, stranding a runner on third. Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 23 chances, and the 413 of his career.

Nady drove an 0-1 pitch from Joel Pineiro an estimated 424 feet into the balcony on the fourth level of the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse just beyond the left-field corner. It was just the fourth homer to land there since Petco Park opened last year, and gave the Padres a 4-0 lead with two outs in the fourth. It was Nady's sixth this year.

"Every mistake we made to Nady he hit and hit hard," Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said.

Nady was making his third straight start. He hit a solo homer on Friday night while starting in place of Nevin, then had a three-run shot on Saturday while filling in for Roberts. Nady started in center again Sunday.

Jackson's leadoff homer came on a 3-2 pitch from Pineiro.

Jackson and Sweeney each singled in a run in the third to make it 3-0.

Pineiro got his seventh no-decision in eight starts. He allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings, struck out three and walked none.

Game notes
Mariners RF Ichiro Suzuki didn't start, but pinch-hit in the ninth and flied out to end the game. Hargrove figured Suzuki needed a break. ... OF Ben Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Portland to take Nevin's roster spot.