Nevin Helps Padres Beat Marlins Again

SAN DIEGO â€”  It has been a seven-year wait, but Phil Nevin is finally playing every day in the majors, and he’s making the most of it.

The former Cal State Fullerton star--and 1992 top overall draft pick taken by Houston--homered and tied a career high with four RBIs to lead the San Diego Padres to a 7-6 victory over the Florida Marlins on Sunday.

Nevin was three for four with a walk. He hit a three-run homer in the first inning off Dennis Springer and added an RBI double in the fourth.

After playing sparingly with Houston, Detroit and the Angels, Nevin has recently been given the chance to play full time at third base.

“They’ve given me the opportunity to win it,� said Nevin, 28. “I want to take advantage and not let go of it.�

The Padres won their second consecutive game after having lost seven in a row and 18 of 21.

The Marlins, who had a seven-game winning streak stopped Saturday night, lost for the eighth time in 11 road games.

After giving up a carer-high 14 hits in his last start, the Padres’ Andy Ashby (11-6) gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings Sunday.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 30th save, despite giving up an RBI double to Kevin Millar and Todd Dunwoody’s sacrifice fly.

Hoffman struck out Jorge Fabregas with the tying run on second to end the game to become the sixth pitcher to have five consecutive seasons with at least 30 saves.

“You have to give a lot of credit to the way [Padre Manager Bruce] Bochy has used me,� said Hoffman, who tied the NL single-season record last season with 53 saves.