years, but they still fell down in key areas, c

SAN DIEGO -- The name and face are familiar but its a different Clayton Richard pitching for the San Diego Padres.Richard was sharp for six-plus innings and Wil Myers homered as San Diego defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Monday night.The win in the matchup between the NL Wests worst teams elevated the Padres into a fourth-place tie with Arizona.Richard (3-3) won his third straight decision, charged with two runs and six hits. He struck out two and walked two.I feel like Im better now than I have been in my career, Richard said.Arizona manager Chip Hale was impressed.He did a good job, pitched in, used his changeup and his breaking ball well, he said.Richard, in his second stint with the Padres, has resurrected his career as a starter. Used mostly by the Chicago Cubs as a reliever the last two years, Richard has allowed two runs or less in six of his seven starts with the Padres.Once a strikeout pitcher coming straight over the top, Richard now pitches from the stretch and with a three-quarter delivery. Since San Diego acquired Richard on waivers on Aug. 6 hes become the teams most consistent starter.I didnt have expectations when I can here, Richard said. I just wanted the opportunity to get on a big-league mound and show what I could do.Brandon Maurer pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 13 chances as the Padres snapped a three-game losing streak.Braden Shipley (4-4), who had won three of his last four starts, was gone after four innings. Shipley surrendered three runs -- two earned -- and six hits with three strikeouts.I just didnt feel like I had the command that I normally do, especially with my offspeed stuff, he said.Richard wasnt in trouble until the seventh when Kyle Jensens triple scored Yasmany Tomas. Philip Gosselin drove in Jensen with an infield hit when Richard was late covering first base on a grounder to the right side.Brad Hand relieved Richard and induced pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks to hit into an inning-ending double play.Brad came into a difficult situation with the momentum going and he stopped it, said Richard, who lowered his ERA as a starter to 1.71.The Padres scored three times in the fourth inning.Myers solo blast started the rally, coming on an elevated outside 93 mph fastball. He went the opposite way over the fence in right field for his 26th homer of the season and a franchise-record 16th at Petco Park.The big thing for me is to stay on the fastball, Myers said. To hit it the other way is good. I wasnt late. I was trying to work the ball that way.Alexi Amarista, who had two hits, followed with a two-run single to left, pushing the Padres ahead 3-0. It came after Derek Norris liner ricocheted off shortstop Chris Owings glove for an error.Padres general manager A.J. Preller started his 30-day suspension for breaking Major League Baseballs protocol for medical record-keeping on Monday.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: OF A.J. Pollock (strained groin) ran for the first time since getting hurt on Sept. 9.Padres: OF Jabari Blash (sprained finger), who has been out since Aug. 19, could rejoin the team at the end of the week.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: RHP Archie Bradley (7-9, 5.07) has produced three quality starts in his last five outings, going 3-1 with a 5.19 ERA. He has split his two decisions in three starts against the Padres.Padres: RHP Paul Clemens (3-5, 4.94) has dropped three of his last four starts, but the win came in his last one. He threw five innings of scoreless ball when the Padres blanked the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 12. Jalen Ramsey Jersey . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Nick Foles Jersey . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. http://www.officialjacksonvillejaguarspro.com/Gardner-minshew-ii-jaguars-jersey/ .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Chris Conley Jersey . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Quincy Williams II Womens Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. New Zealand have retained the Bledisloe Cup for yet another year with a 29-9 victory over Australia in Wellington.The Wallabies turned in an improved showing after their 42-8 drubbing in Sydney, but they never seriously threatened the world champions line and New Zealand were untroubled in lifting the silverware for the 14th year in succession.Australia scored through two penalties from Bernard Foley and a 52-metre goal from Reece Hodge, who was thrown into the mix earlier than expected when veteran winger Adam Ashley-Cooper went off with concussion in the 17th minute.New Zealand, meanwhile, took what opportunities fell their way in a stop-start affair, the whistle of referee Romain Poite a constant presence throughout the 80 minutes. A first-half double to Israel Dagg gave the hosts a 15-9 advantage at the break before Julian Savea and Sam Cane crossed for tries in the second half.On the scoreboard, it looks like were going pretty easy but I dont think anyone would say it was easy out there tonight, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said.The skill level of our guys tonight was really good under extreme pressure at times.At the moment, I think thats probably where weve got a little bit of an edge.I dont want to sit here and bag Australia. Theyre one of our best friends.The Wallabies began with clear intent in front of the sold-out crowd oof 35,372 spectators at a windswept Westpac Stadium, where they have not won for 16 years, but they still fell down in key areas, coughing up three lineouts and struggling to contain the slick, polished world champions -- missing 27 tackles to six.ddddddddddddThe All Blacks werent as clinical as in Sydney but still dominated possession and territory, and played all the rugby.Australia went closest to scoring when Nick Phipps crossed in the dying moments - as he had done the week before -- but this time he lost control of the ball as he tried to touch down.Australias losing streak under Michael Cheika now stands at six matches - one short of the seven defeats in 2005 that eventually led to the sacking of Eddie Jones.Two-Test lock Adam Coleman was also yellow-carded just before the interval for a late shoulder charge on Ben Smith.While that incident wont have impressed Cheika, the Wallabies coach was happy with the resolve his team showed after last weeks deplorable display.The players responded much better, he said.I was more pleased with the performance this week in that regard and thats something weve got to build on and bring to every game.(But) we cant wait until were down on one knee before we bring it. 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