Nevin Doubles His Fun

SAN DIEGO — With one swing, third baseman Phil Nevin put some needed punch into the San Diego Padre offense.

Nevin hit a grand slam with one out in the eighth inning, his second homer of the game, and the Padres rallied Thursday to defeat the Oakland Athletics, 6-4, and avoid a three-game sweep.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than that home run,” Manager Bruce Bochy said. “He told me he was going to shake my hand again after the first homer and he couldn’t have picked a better time.”

Nevin’s performance came three weeks to the day since the Padres were alone in first place in the National League West for a day. Since then, they’ve won only four of 19 games.

“To be in first place by a game not too long ago and hit a skid the way we did, it’s tough to get out of something like that,” Bochy said.

The Padres were slow getting their offense going again and until Nevin’s grand slam--the second of his career--they were in danger of being held to two runs or fewer for the fifth time in six games.

Trailing, 4-2, in the eighth, the Padres got consecutive singles by pinch-hitter Dave Magadan and rookie Cesar Crespo, who replaced the slumping Rickey Henderson in the leadoff spot.

After Mark Kotsay’s sacrifice, A’s Manager Art Howe had reliever Jim Mecir (2-6) intentionally walk Ryan Klesko to load the bases, then brought on submariner Chad Bradford to face Nevin.

Bradford left a sinker up and Nevin drove the 2-and-1 pitch into the seats.