APPadres rookie Josh Barfield, son of former AL home run champ Jesse Barfield, singled to center leading off the fifth for his first big league hit. He scored his first run on Eric Young’s sacrifice fly to give the Padres a 2-1 lead.
“It was awesome,” Josh Barfield said. “That was a dream come true. It was kind of everything I expected, and more.”
Jesse Barfield said he got a little teary-eyed seeing his son wearing No. 29, the same number he wore during his big league career.
“I’m very proud,” said Jesse Barfield, who visited the Padres’ clubhouse afterward. “He’s worked hard to get to this point, and he’s here. They showed confidence and faith in him, and he’s going to do the same for him.”
Greene homered with one out in the sixth, with Gonzalez on base with a one-out single. Bonds turned and watched the ball land in the seats. Greene added an RBI single in the eighth, and Vinny Castilla followed with a sacrifice fly.
Peavy got the win by holding the Giants to a run and four hits in seven innings while striking out five and walking one. He led the NL with 216 strikeouts last year.
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Schmidt went seven in taking the loss, allowing four runs and seven hits while striking two and walking one.
Notes: Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush of Southern California, a San Diego-area native, threw the ceremonial first pitch to Josh Barfield. “Baseball was my first sport,” Bush said before the game. “I wish I would have stayed with it.” Then again, he could be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft later this month. ... Bush wore a Padres jersey with his college number, 5, on the back. ... Josh Barfield got a football autographed by Bush. ... Jesse Barfield admired his son’s bats and shoes. “Equipment’s so much better these days,” he said. The elder Barfield also spoke by phone with his youngest son, Jeremy, a high school star in Texas who went 3-for-3 on Monday, including a game-winning homer. ... Closer Trevor Hoffman and bullpen catcher Mark Merila, who battled a brain tumor last season, raised the 2005 NL West championship banner. ... Piazza’s homer was his 398th, tying Dale Murphy for 43rd. He became the ninth player to homer in first at-bat with the Padres.
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