MADDUX STARTS DODGERS OFF RIGHT NO-HITS PADRES FOR 6 1/3 INNINGS IN WIN DODGERS 3, SAN DIEGO 1.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND Staff Writer

In July, San Diego looked into trading for Greg Maddux. In August, the Dodgers sniffed around David Wells. < In September the pitchers faced off, Maddux for the Dodgers, Wells for the Padres.

For at least one night, the whole situation couldn't have worked out any better for the Dodgers.

Maddux, who had struggled in his previous two outings, took the ball Friday night and flirted with history for the second time in his two-month stint with the Dodgers. Maddux threw 6 1/3 no-hit innings and the Dodgers opened a crucial series with a 3-1 victory over the Padres in front of 52,911 at Dodger Stadium.

J.D. Drew, Julio Lugo and Olmedo Saenz each drove in one run and Maddux tossed seven shutout innings as the Dodgers increased their National League West lead over San Diego to 1 1/2 games with 15 remaining.

Maddux, acquired from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline to provide rotation depth, has exceeded all reasonable expectations in the past eight weeks, but no more so than Friday. The Padres managed only three walks until Brian Giles singled with one out in the seventh, on a 1-0 count, Maddux's 66th pitch.

Little pulled Maddux after the seventh, after the pitcher let Little know he felt mentally fatigued.

``Everybody would have liked to see him take a one-hitter into the ninth,'' Little said, ``but we have to look at the big picture. He gave us an outstanding performance. We couldn't ask for anything more.''

Maddux (13-13) struck out one, threw 68 pitches and remained coy when asked whether he would have returned to the mound in the eighthinning had the no-hitter remained intact.

``I don't know. Probably. Maybe. I don't know,'' Maddux said with a smile. ``Mentally, I was tired.''

In his Dodgers debut Aug. 3 at Cincinnati, Maddux tossed sixno-hit innings before his outing was ended by a rain delay. Maddux was coming off consecutive losses and faced a big start, as the Dodgers and Padres opened a four-game series that will go a long way in determining the NL West champion.

``You put (pressure) on yourself,'' Maddux said. ``I looked at the standings when I got up and we were either going to be in first place or second place when the night was over. That puts pressure on you.''

Momentum didn't seem to be heading in the Dodgers' favor Friday. They lost six of 10 games on the recent road trip and had a 3-11record against the Padres this season, including 0-5 at Dodger Stadium.

It was also hard to know what to expect from Maddux against the Padres. As a member of the Cubs this season, Maddux faced San Diego twice. In the first outing, he allowed seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. In the second, he allowed one run (unearned) on fourhits in 7 1/3 innings.

Maddux shut down the Padres, although not without an anxious start. Dave Roberts walked on five pitches to start the game, but was thrown out by Russell Martin while attempting to steal second.

Adrian Gonzalez walked with oneout in the second inning but was erased when Maddux snagged a line drive by Mike Cameron and doubled Gonzalez off first to end the inning. It seemed that Maddux might be fading in the fifth, when he walked Cameron and needed 18pitches to get through the inning, but he came back to retire the side on six pitches in the sixth.

Through three innings, Wells nearly matched Maddux pitch for pitch, as he allowed only a second-inning single to Julio Lugo, but the Dodgers managed a huge two-out rally in the fourth.

Jeff Kent walked, then Drew blasted a double to center, over the head of Cameron. Kent, who has been slowed by a strained oblique muscle, lumbered around the bases and narrowly beat the throw to the plate. Lugo then blooped a single to right to score Drew from second for a 2-0 lead.

Wells (0-1) lasted five innings and allowed the two runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

The Dodgers' Nomar Garciaparra left the game after the sixth inning with a strained left quadriceps and said he was unsure about whether he would be able to play tonight.

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Dodgers' Jeff Kent assists on a putout at first base Friday against San Diego. Kent also scored the game's first run.

(2) Dodgers starter Greg Maddux checks his grip while taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning Friday night against San Diego.

(3) Dodgers second baseman Julio Lugo avoids the Padres' Brian Giles to finish a seventh-inning double play and help Greg Maddux.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Box:

DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO

- Rich Hammond