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SAN DIEGO - Robbie Erlin was certain of two things after going four months between starts. "I was pretty fresh and rested," he said. Erlin pitched six strong innings as the San Diego Padres defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 on Thursday night. "It was a solid, major league pitched game," Padres manager Bud Black said. Alexi Amarista and Will Venable homered as the Padres took three of four in the series. Erlin (4-4), slowed by a sore elbow this season, allowed a run on five hits in his first start since May 17. He struck out four and didnt walk a batter. "His season was interrupted by the elbow, which was a bummer because I think he was off to a good start," Black said. "This was more like what we saw in April and May. He threw the ball as though his arm is good, his elbow is fine and he pitched with conviction. I thought he had a nice mix of pitches," he said. Erlin combined a fastball in the low 90s mph with a changeup and curve — and the help of four relievers — in stifling the Phillies. "We had a good game plan going into it and I was just keeping the ball down in the zone as much as I could," Erlin said. With no outs in the eighth, Philadelphia brought the tying run to the plate before Dale Thayer struck out the side. The Phillies scored twice in the ninth. "We couldnt come up with the clutch hit in this series," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. Kyle Kendrick (9-13) struggled in his five innings. He gave up three runs on six hits, five walks and a hit batter. "I felt I was behind in the count a lot," Kendrick said. "Its tough to pitch that way." Amarista homered in the second, lifting a changeup just into the right-field seats for a 1-0 lead. Domonic Brown tied it with an RBI single in the fourth. The Padres scored in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly by Amarista. Seth Smith had an RBI single in the fifth for a 3-1 lead. He drove in Jedd Gyorko, who singled with two outs and moved up when Yasmani Grandal walked, Kendricks third base on balls in 10 batters. The Padres extended their lead to 4-1 in the sixth after Cameron Maybin opened with a double and scored on Cory Spangenbergs single. TRAINERS ROOM Phillies: SS Jimmy Rollins, out of the lineup since Sept. 8 with a strained left hamstring, continues to increase his work. Sandberg said its possible Rollins will play this weekend at Oakland. Padres: RHP Joaquin Benoit continues to make progress from the sore right shoulder which has sidelined him since Aug. 26. Black said Benoit could be available on Friday, but not likely in the closer role. UP NEXT Phillies: RHP David Buchanan (6-7, 3.75 ERA) will face the As for the first time when going against LHP Jon Lester (15-10, 2.45) on Friday night at Oakland. Padres: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (3-7, 3.63), who has lost seven of his last eight decisions, opens a three-game series against the visiting Giants and RHP Tim Hudson (9-11, 3.41). NINJA FLEXES At 5-foot-6, 152 pounds, Amarista doesnt stand out for his brawn. But Amarista hit his fifth homer of the year on Thursday, which puts him one ahead of Padres slugger Carlos Quentin. Quentin, at 6-1 and 235 pounds looks the part. But with various knee issues this season, Quentin played in only 50 games. WEST COAST CHOPPERS Even with Thursdays loss, the Phillies enjoy competing against clubs in the NL West. For the seventh straight season Philadelphia ends its schedule against NL West foes with a winning record, this year at 17-16. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Hornets Jersey . Green-Ellis was Cincinnatis leading rusher each of the last two seasons. His role was reduced last year when Giovani Bernard was added to the backfield. Green-Ellis ran for 756 yards and a career-low 3. Marvin Williams Hornets Jersey . - IndyCar racing officials expressed confidence on Monday that the NOLA Motorsports Park will be able to complete more $4. http://www.hornetsteamproshop.com/Cheap-...Hornets-Jersey/. His absence against the Celtics comes a day after he scored 43 points in the Heats 100-96 win at Cleveland. Percy Miller Jersey . Hall had a goal and three assists in a 5-4 loss to San Jose on Tuesday, had an assist in each of Edmontons next two games the capped the week with a goal and two assists in the Oilers 4-2 win over Anaheim on Sunday. Muggsy Bogues Jersey . -- The Los Angeles Clippers chose not to speak publicly about owner Donald Sterling before they faced the Golden State Warriors for Game 4 of their first-round series Sunday.LAGOS, Nigeria -- Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure was named African player of the year for a third straight time on Thursday. He beat out Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel of Nigeria in the vote by Africas national team coaches. Toures fellow Ivorian Didier Drogba, the Galatasaray striker and two-time recipient, was third. "To be the winner today is unbelievable," the 30-year-old Toure said. "I am very happy and very, very proud." Toure was instrumental in helping Ivory Coast qualify for its third straight World Cup finals in Brazil, scoring four goals in the six qualifiers he played. He is also a driving force at the heart of Manchester Citys midfield and only Cameroons Samuel Etoo with four has won more African player of the year awards than Toure. In October, Toure joined a U.N. campaign against poaching, warning the slaughter of elephants threatens their very existence in Africa. Nigeria sswept all of the other major honours at a gala in Lagos, the countrys seaside commercial capital.dddddddddddd. Stephen Keshi was named coach of the year after reviving the fortunes of the national team and leading the Super Eagles to their first African Cup win in 20 years. Keshi was captain of the Nigerian team that last won the African Cup of Nations in 1994. The Super Eagles won the team of the year award, and the under-17 Golden Eaglets took away the trophy for the youth team. Even Nigerian supporters were honoured, winning the award for fair play. Egypts Mohamed Aboutrika won an unprecedented fourth award for the best player based in Africa after helping Al Ahly to a record-extending eighth African Champions League title before retiring at the end of last year. Aboutrika scored in both legs of the final against South Africas Orlando Pirates. Al Ahly won Africas club of the year for the fifth time. ' ' '