Burnett, Byrd lead Phillies over Padres 5-2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) A.J. Burnett and Marlon Byrd were the two acquisitions the Philadelphia Phillies were hoping would help them get back to the postseason.

Well, they helped them get a win in a season going nowhere.

Burnett threw 7 1-3 sharp innings, Byrd hit a three-run homer and the Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 on Tuesday night.

''Create some momentum. We just have to carry it over into tomorrow,'' manager Ryne Sandberg said.

Back from a 1-5 trip that left them tied with the Cubs for the worst record in the NL, the Phillies opened a six-game homestand with only their 13th win at Citizens Bank Park.

Burnett (4-5) allowed two runs and three hits to earn his first win since May 20.

''It all starts with our pitching,'' Burnett said. ''If we hold them down and give our guys a chance, the better off we'll be.''

Jonathan Papelbon left the bases loaded in a scoreless ninth to record his 300th career save, becoming the 26th pitcher to reach that mark. He has 14 consecutive saves after blowing his first try.

''It was tough because I didn't feel that emotion in a while,'' Papelbon said. ''It means a lot to me, more than most people would think.''

Will Venable hit a solo homer for San Diego. Starter Ian Kennedy (5-7) gave up five runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Kennedy retired the first nine batters before Ben Revere lined a double to right to start Philadelphia's fourth. Chase Utley's RBI single tied it at 1. After Ryan Howard singled, Byrd hit an opposite-field shot into the seats in right-center field for a 4-1 lead.

''It seems there's always one pitch you'd like to take back and that was the pitch,'' Kennedy said. ''Not a good location.''

Utley and Howard hit consecutive singles before Byrd drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it 5-1.

That was enough for Burnett, who shook off his recent struggles and was in control throughout. The righty was 1-4 with a 7.25 ERA in his previous six starts. Burnett walked two after issuing 10 in his last two starts.

''It looked like he was throwing more strikes and he had some contact outs early in counts,'' Sandberg said. ''He also mixed in some two-seam fastballs, which worked for him in getting ground-ball outs to left-handed hitters.''

Burnett only threw 89 pitches before giving way to Jake Diekman, who got the final two outs in the eighth on strikeouts. Diekman reached 100 mph on one of his fastballs.

''I don't like to come out of a game, period,'' Burnett said. ''But he throws a little harder than me.''

The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the third when Venable lined a 3-1 pitch into the seats in right for only his second homer in 179 at-bats. Venable hit a career-high 22 homers last season.

The light-hitting Padres entered with the worst batting average in the majors at .218. Carlos Quentin snapped an 0-for-24 slump with a seventh-inning double. But Everth Cabrera (0 for 18) and Jace Peterson (0 for 18) were 0 for 5 to extend their hitless streaks.

Quentin scored on Yonder Alonso's sacrifice fly to cut it to 5-2.

NOTES: The Phillies had some positive injury news. LHP Cliff Lee could start throwing soon. He's missed the last four starts because of an elbow strain. 3B Cody Asche (hamstring) should start a rehab assignment this weekend. An MRI showed that RHP Mike Adams doesn't have a torn labrum. Adams will get a cortisone shot and expects to return after a stint on the DL. ... Only Arizona has fewer home wins (12) than Philadelphia. ... Papelbon's save was his first since May 24. ... The Padres lost for only the 11th time when having a lead at any point in a game. That's the third-fewest total in the majors. ... The Phillies and Padres have 11 sacrifice flies this season. Only Pittsburgh had fewer (9). ... The Phillies signed RHP Aaron Nola, the seventh overall pick in last week's amateur draft. ... RHP Tyson Ross (6-5, 3.22) of the Padres faces LHP Cole Hamels (2-3, 3.49) on Wednesday night.