SportsMay 30, 2006
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres might finally be figuring out spacious Petco Park. Mark Bellhorn hit the longest home run in Petco's three-year history and drove in four runs, Josh Bard connected twice and had three RBIs, and the Padres beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-8 Sunday...
The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres might finally be figuring out spacious Petco Park.

Mark Bellhorn hit the longest home run in Petco's three-year history and drove in four runs, Josh Bard connected twice and had three RBIs, and the Padres beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-8 Sunday.

San Diego rallied for eight runs in the fifth inning -- all coming with one out -- to get ace Jake Peavy off the hook. Peavy (4-5) had fallen behind 6-2 after the five-run St. Louis fifth, when Albert Pujols hit a three-run drive for his major league-leading 24th homer.

Bard hit a two-run homer in the fifth off Mark Mulder (5-3), just after Bellhorn's three-run double. Bellhorn and Bard homered on consecutive pitches in the fourth. Bard, Mike Cameron and rookie Josh Bard had three hits apiece.

Each team had 16 hits, setting a Petco record for total hits in a game.

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Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his ninth save in as many chances.

San Diego took two of three from the Cardinals, who swept the Padres in the NL division series in October.

Petco Park, which opened in 2004, surrendered its two longest homers, and three of its longest four.

Sammy Sosa's old record of 434 feet set in 2004 was eclipsed twice in a matter of minutes.

Bellhorn hit a 1-0 pitch from Mulder an estimated 438 feet into the bleachers to tie the game at 1-1 with one out in the fourth. Bard hit Mulder's next pitch an estimated 434 feet.

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