SEATTLE (AP) — James Shields became the first San Diego pitcher since 2007 to start the season 5-0, Will Middlebrooks homered for the first time in nearly a month, and the Padres ended the Seattle Mariners four-game win streak, 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Middlebrooks' solo homer leading off the third inning was his fourth of the season and first since April 19. Cory Spangenberg added a sacrifice fly in the third and Abraham Almonte had an RBI single in the seventh as the Padres split the brief two-game series.
Shields (5-0) struggled to get through six innings, but became just the sixth pitcher in Padres' history to win his first five decisions and first since Justin Germano in 2007.