Padres Stretch Streak to Nine

Greg Maddux was no match for the resurgent San Diego Padres.

The 40-year-old right-hander of the Chicago Cubs couldn’t get out of the fourth inning Monday night in an 8-3 loss to the host Padres, who won their ninth consecutive game.

Khalil Greene homered and Mike Cameron had three runs batted in to hasten Maddux’s exit in his worst start of the year. It was the seventh consecutive loss for the Cubs and ninth in 10 games.

Dave Roberts had three hits, three stolen bases and scored four runs, and Cameron and Brian Giles each finished with three hits and three RBIs. Right-hander Chris Young (3-2) wrapped up the four-game sweep by ending a personal two-game losing streak.

The Padres are on their longest winning streak since setting the club record with 14 in a row in 1999. They are two games above .500 (17-15) for the first time this year.

Maddux (5-2) lost his second consecutive start after starting 5-0 for the first time in his career. He gave up seven runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.

A victory would have tied Maddux with Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton for 13th on the all-time list with 324. Instead, it was Maddux’s shortest start since he pitched two innings against Florida on April 5, 2003.

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Colorado 6, St. Louis 2 -- Left-hander Jeff Francis gave up one run in 7 2/3 innings at St. Louis to lead the Rockies to their fourth consecutive victory.

Matt Holliday hit two homers to help end the Cardinals’ winning streak at three games.

Francis (2-2) had a streak of 14 2/3 scoreless innings ended when Hector Luna singled with two outs in the eighth inning to drive in So Taguchi. Francis was 0-2 with a 4.50 earned-run average in April. He has a 0.61 ERA in May.

Holliday had three hits and scored three runs. He hit both homers leading off innings against starter Jason Marquis (3-4). His drives in the third and seventh innings gave him nine homers.

Brad Hawpe singled twice and drove in three runs for the Rockies (20-13), who moved seven games over .500 for the first time since July 7, 2000, when they were 45-38.

Marquis has lost his last four decisions, largely because of wildness. His ERA was 2.79 after his first three starts, all victories. It is 8.74 in his four losses.

Marquis gave up four walks in 19 1/3 innings in his first three starts. In the four games since, he has walked 13 in 22 2/3 innings.

Francis, a rookie last season, is 2-0 against St. Louis, both wins coming in St. Louis. He pitched six scoreless innings in a 7-0 win over the Cardinals on June 30, 2005.