SAN DIEGO - Robbie Erlin was certain of two things after going four months between starts. Brice Johnson Jersey . "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. Wesley Johnson Jersey . That Ginette Reno can sing. Austin Rivers Jersey . I suppose Sternberg has earned the right to speak out since his Rays, despite one of the lowest payrolls in the Majors at $58 million, are entering the final weekend of the regular season holding down the first Wild Card spot in the American League, one game ahead of Cleveland and two up on Texas. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.com/ .com) - Charlie Davies netted a pair of goals, including the series-winner on Saturday, as the New England Revolution battled the New York Red Bulls to a 2-2 draw in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship at Gillette Stadium and advanced to MLS Cup final via a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory.Joffrey Lupul with a young protege. And fellow Leaf, Jake Gardiner, hiking in Whistler. Erik Karlsson getting his shirt signed by David Guetta. Thanks for all the birthday wishes:). And thank you @davidguetta for signing my tshirt. You rock pic.twitter.com/BRaZ0aUto6— Erik Karlsson (@ErikKarlsson65) June 1, 20114 Tyler Seguin continues to reel them in. Sam Dekker Jersey. The Oilers at the Sam Gagner wedding. And then theres this. Andrew Ference. True love is sticking with a man who dresses like this for his work outs. #fannypack pic.twitter.com/kbq3PR3Od7— Krista Ference (@krista_ference) July 16, 2014 Cheap NFL JerseysWholesale JerseysWholesale NFL JerseysJerseys From ChinaWholesale NFL JerseysCheap NFL JerseysCheap Jerseys ' ' '