SAN DIEGO -- Robbie Erlin turned in another strong pitching performance and the San Diego bats stayed hot as the Padres took down the Marlins, 5-4, in the finale of a four-game series at Petco Park on Sunday.Will Venable got things started for the Padres' offense with a leadoff home run in the first. The homer was Venable's first of the season and his 10th career leadoff home run, improving his franchise-best mark.The Padres used another big inning to pad the lead, with Chris Denorfia's two-run single serving as the big blow in a four-run fourth. 
Erlin (2-4) struck out a career-high seven batters and did not allow a run over 6 1/3 innings. He snapped a personal four-game losing streak and collected his first victory since April 15, despite allowing only one run over seven innings in his previous start.Having scored 24 runs over their past three games, the Padres appear to have broken out of an offensive slump that saw them enter the weekend with the fewest runs scored in the Majors. Leading the way in the offensive surge is outfielder Seth Smith, who went 2-for-4 on Sunday with an RBI, and has 14 hits in his last 27 at-bats, including five doubles, two triples, a home run and seven RBIs.Yonder Alonso also has heated up with the bat, and before flying out to right in the seventh, he had reached base in eight consecutive plate appearances, including five hits and three walks.After Erlin exited, Dale Thayer surrendered a solo home run to Christian Yelich in the eighth. Joaquin Benoit came on and allowed a two-run triple to Jeff Baker that skipped just underneath the glove of a diving Denorfia in right field. Benoit allowed one more run on a groundout by Adeiny Hechavarria as the Marlins cut the lead to 5-4.Huston Street retired the side in the ninth to earn his 11th save in as many chances and keep the Padres unbeaten (4-0) on Mother's Day at Petco Park.Tim Powers / Special to MLB.com
Erlin (2-4) struck out a career-high seven batters and did not allow a run over 6 1/3 innings. He snapped a personal four-game losing streak and collected his first victory since April 15, despite allowing only one run over seven innings in his previous start.Having scored 24 runs over their past three games, the Padres appear to have broken out of an offensive slump that saw them enter the weekend with the fewest runs scored in the Majors. Leading the way in the offensive surge is outfielder Seth Smith, who went 2-for-4 on Sunday with an RBI, and has 14 hits in his last 27 at-bats, including five doubles, two triples, a home run and seven RBIs.Yonder Alonso also has heated up with the bat, and before flying out to right in the seventh, he had reached base in eight consecutive plate appearances, including five hits and three walks.After Erlin exited, Dale Thayer surrendered a solo home run to Christian Yelich in the eighth. Joaquin Benoit came on and allowed a two-run triple to Jeff Baker that skipped just underneath the glove of a diving Denorfia in right field. Benoit allowed one more run on a groundout by Adeiny Hechavarria as the Marlins cut the lead to 5-4.Huston Street retired the side in the ninth to earn his 11th save in as many chances and keep the Padres unbeaten (4-0) on Mother's Day at Petco Park.Tim Powers / Special to MLB.com
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