SAN DIEGO (AP) - Jody Gerut is having a month to remember.

Gerut hit a two-run homer off Jon Rauch in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the San Diego Padres snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 Monday night.

It was Gerut's 14th home run of the season and seventh in August. He also has 17 RBIs in 21 games this month, tops on the team.

"To me, Jody's been the second-half MVP, no doubt about it," Padres ace Jake Peavy said. "He's carried us, hitting in the leadoff spot, and now he's hitting third, coming up with some big hits. No different from what we've seen all year."

The loss kept first-place Arizona three games ahead of Los Angeles in the NL West. The Dodgers lost 5-0 at Philadelphia.

Trevor Hoffman (2-6) pitched a scoreless inning for the win, ending a long skid for San Diego.

"Was it seven? I don't know what it was, but it was tough," Gerut said. "It's a struggle to get through things like that. At some point, you know things are going to change for you. It's just good that it was in dramatic fashion and we can go home happy tonight."

Luis Rodriguez singled with two outs in the ninth, his third hit, and Gerut drove the next pitch from the 6-foot-11 Rauch (4-5) into the right-field bleachers.

"He's just another righty reliever to me. I don't particularly see him that well, but I got a good cut," Gerut said. "I can't imagine anyone saying they walk into the batter's box and feel comfortable against a guy like that."

It was Gerut's first game-ending homer.

"Jody was great in spring training, didn't really have much of an opportunity early. They gave it to other guys," Peavy said. "He's stayed patient and obviously is showing he's a big league player."

Acquired from Washington last month, Rauch has given up homers in consecutive outings.

"(Rauch) is going to keep getting run out there," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "He's in a pennant race right now and I'm sure it hurts a little bit, but come tomorrow he'll come in with a positive attitude and look to contribute again."

Dan Haren and Peavy both pitched well in an entertaining duel, though neither got a decision.

Haren tossed seven innings, allowing two runs and nine hits. The right-hander struck out a season-high 11 and walked one. He threw 101 pitches, 71 for strikes. He also had a single and a double.

"I knew I had good stuff," Haren said. "My split got better as the game went on and I was able to strike out people."

Peavy pitched six innings, yielding two runs and four hits. He threw 121 pitches, 71 for strikes, while striking out seven and walking two. His single helped the Padres score the tying run in the fourth.

"I threw a lot of pitches. I appreciate the opportunity," Peavy said. "My arm feels good and I'll be ready to bounce back whenever my turn comes up."

Arizona took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on a two-out, two-run single by Chris Snyder.

Conor Jackson started the inning with a single and stole second as Peavy struck out Adam Dunn. Peavy fanned Chad Tracy for the second out before Mark Reynolds reached on an infield single to shortstop, beating Rodriguez's throw as Jackson went to third.

With Snyder at the plate, Reynolds stole second. Snyder fouled off a few pitches on a 2-2 count before lining his single up the middle to score Jackson and Reynolds.

The Padres grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI triple by Rodriguez. Brian Giles, who had three hits, drew a walk leading off the inning.

Giles had an RBI single in the fourth, driving in Josh Bard to tie the score 2-all. Bard singled with one out and moved to third when Peavy sliced a single down the right-field line.

Rodriguez also had three hits - a single, double and triple.

PHOENIX (AP) - Ricky Nolasco has been nearly untouchable lately, and he's not talking about it.

"I don't say anything," the Florida pitcher said after a 5-2 win Sunday over the Arizona Diamondbacks. "I let my actions speak."

Nolasco allowed three hits and struck out 10 over 7 1-3 innings, and Josh Willingham went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs to help the Marlins take two of three from the NL West leaders. Florida moved within five games of the first-place New York Mets in the NL East.

"That's what we shoot for - two out of three and move on to the next one," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Nolasco also hit an RBI double for Florida, which won seven of nine against the Diamondbacks this season.

"Good riddance to them," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said jokingly. "They've been tough on us all year."

Nolasco (13-7) did not walk a batter five days after throwing a two-hit shutout in San Francisco. The right-hander walked one and struck out 11 against the Giants. Over his past four starts, he has struck out 43 and walked only three.

"He goes out and you know you're going to get a quality start," Willingham said.

Kevin Gregg pitched the ninth and allowed a pair of base runners before nailing down his 29th save in 36 chances.

Stephen Drew hit his second career leadoff homer and scored both runs for Arizona, which finished 4-2 on its weeklong homestand.

"To go 4-2 and get three games ahead (of second-place Los Angeles) is a good thing," Drew said.

Nolasco also gave up a one-out double to Conor Jackson and a two-out walk to Tony Clark in the first but then retired his next 13 batters.

Nolasco struck out the side in the fourth and seventh. He is 3-0 against the Diamondbacks this season and 4-0 in his career against Arizona.

Arizona's 4-5-6 hitters - Adam Dunn, Clark and Mark Reynolds - went a combined 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts against Nolasco.

"He's been the most consistent pitcher we have," Gonzalez said.

Nolasco helped his own cause in the second when he broke a 1-all tie with a double to right, scoring Luis Gonzalez, who hit a one-out double off starter Doug Davis.

Willingham made it 3-1 when he led off the sixth inning with his ninth home run.

Drew pulled Arizona to 3-2 in the bottom half when he doubled, went to third on a groundout and scored on a grounder by Jackson.

Florida added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth on doubles by Jeremy Hermida, Paul Lo Duca and Hanley Ramirez.

Davis (5-8) allowed three runs and seven hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings. The left-hander lost for the third time in four decisions despite not walking a batter for the first time this year.

"I pretty much got outpitched," Davis said.

Willingham gave Florida a 1-0 lead when he drove in Alfredo Amezaga with a two-out single.

Drew tied the score when he hit his 15th home run into the swimming pool behind the right-center fence.

"I gave one up early, but the early runs put a little less stress on you," Nolasco said. "We came out swinging today and I started putting pressure on them."

PHOENIX (AP) - Adam Dunn confessed he had some jitters before taking the field for his home debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

But any worries disappeared when Dunn hit his National League-leading 33rd home run, powering the Diamondbacks to a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.

 "It's a good feeling to have," Dunn said. "Probably Opening Day and the opening day of deer season are about the only times I get butterflies."

Conor Jackson had two hits and two RBIs for the Diamondbacks, who have won four of five and six of eight.

Arizona starter Doug Davis (5-7) scattered seven hits over six innings for his first win since July 29, and his second win in his last nine starts. Tony Pena recorded the final two outs for his second save - and first since May 16 - in five chances.

"I ended up getting strike one more often tonight and was able to make them hit my pitch," said Davis, who has recorded three of five wins against the NL West.

Adrian Gonzalez had four hits and two RBIs for the Padres, who have lost five of seven.

Dunn, acquired by Arizona from the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 11, made it 6-2 with a towering two-run homer in the fourth on a pitch Padres starter Josh Banks said he "tried to bounce." Dunn tied Philadelphia's Ryan Howard for the NL lead and moved within two homers of Carlos Quentin of the Chicago White Sox for the major league lead.

"I knew it was going to come and my homers come in bunches," Dunn said.

San Diego made things interesting in the ninth against Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon, who has struggled in non-save situations over the past month.

Trailing 7-3 entering the inning, Edgar Gonzalez doubled, Brian Giles drew a one-out walk and Kevin Kouzmanoff singled to right to load the bases. Adrian Gonzalez followed with a sinking line drive to center, scoring his brother and Giles to pull the Padres within 7-5.

Chase Headley then singled to right to make it 7-6.

"I don't think he's a guy who needs the emotional lift or adrenaline rush of a save situation," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said of Lyon, who allowed three runs to raise his ERA to 4.60. "He's just being a little bit fine with the fastball."

Lyon, pitching for the first time in nearly a week, gave way to Pena, who threw out Adrian Gonzalez at home on a fielder's choice and retired Nick Hundley on a fly ball to center to end the game.

"We put a nice finish on it," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Every hit in the ninth inning is big but we couldn't get that really big one at the end."

Banks (3-6) struggled with his control from the opening batter and Arizona capitalized.

Banks walked Augie Ojeda and Chris Young to start the game and Jackson blooped an RBI single to right. Banks walked Dunn to reload the bases for Mark Reynolds, who hit a sacrifice fly.

Chad Tracy was intentionally walked and Chris Snyder hit a run-scoring single to make it 3-0. Chris Burke lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right to score Dunn for a 4-0 lead before Banks struck out Davis to end the inning.

"The team going out there and scoring four runs made it a lot easier to go out and throw strikes," Davis said.

The Padres cut the lead to 4-2 on an RBI single by Tadahito Iguchi and a sacrifice fly by Sean Kazmar.

Banks allowed six runs, four hits and a season-worst seven walks with three strikeouts over four innings. In his last two starts, Banks has walked 13 and allowed 13 runs in 8 1-3 innings.

"I know I'm letting the team down," Banks said. "That's just not how I pitch. I'm not the most dominating pitcher but usually I can keep my team in the game."

Gerut singled home Adrian Gonzalez in the eighth to pull San Diego within 6-3. Jackson added a run-scoring single in the bottom of the inning, his second RBI of the game, to make it 7-3.