EFFORT TO WIN WEST RESCUED BY STREAK

The Padres returned to the playoffs in their second year in Petco Park with a distinctive caveat: No team had won its division with a worse winning percentage than their 82-80 record in 2005.

They continued to trend in the wrong direction the following year until ripping off a nine-game winning streak — extended on this date, May 8, in 2006 — when Chris Young outdueled the Cubs’ Greg Maddux in an 8-3 win at Petco Park.

The streak immediately followed a five-game skid that dropped San Diego a season-worst seven games under .500. It included three walk-off wins and only ended when the Milwaukee Brewers scratched together a two-out, 10th inning rally to put an end to what was the Padres’ longest winning streak in seven years.

The winning streak pulled the Padres out of a 915 April into a 19-10 May and ultimately atop the division for just the fifth time in franchise history.

A 22-8 scoring margin from the seventh inning on was a big part of the streak, but the Padres led from the jump on May 8, 2006. Singles by Mike Cameron and Brian Giles opened a 2-0 lead on Maddux, who allowed seven runs in 32⁄3 innings in falling to 5-2 on the season.

Young, meanwhile, allowed three runs in 62⁄3 innings to improve to 3-2 and Alan Embree, Scott Cassidy and Dewon Brazelton finished off the Cubs.

Cameron and Giles each finished with three RBIS on three hits, including a double each; Dave Roberts reached base four times and scored four runs and Khalil Greene hit his sixth homer.

Also on this date

1975: Three double plays helped LHP Randy Jones face one batter over the minimum in a four-hit, 3-0 win in Cincinnati. The game was completed in one hour and 39 minutes.

2019: LF Hunter Renfroe provided the go-ahead run with a homer for the third time in four games as the Padres beat the Mets 3-2 at Petco Park. Renfroe’s seventh-inning blast against Tyler Bashlor broke a 2-2 tie.

jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com