Peavy Delivers, Pads Provide HR Support.

San Diego Padres' Jake Peavy pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during their baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas) (Gus Ruelas - AP)

-- Jake Peavy made himself right at home on that pitcher-perfect mound at Dodger Stadium.

Peavy earned his NL-leading 17th victory and the San Diego Padres boosted their position in a pair of playoff races, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-4 Tuesday night.

The All-Star ace has won all five starts against the Dodgers this year, including three in Los Angeles. Pitchers have always liked throwing off that mound _ some feel it's higher than most, with just the right slope and a comfy landing spot.

"No way I can come in here and let the Dodgers win this first game," Peavy said. "If I do that, then the team morale really gets down and we can easily roll over. You want to lead by example and I was just hoping to be good for the boys tonight and fortunately I was."

Brian Giles, Khalil Greene, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Geoff Blum homered as the Padres increased their wild-card lead to 2 1/2 games over Philadelphia, which lost to Colorado 8-2. San Diego is 3 1/2 games ahead of the Dodgers and Rockies.

The Padres also closed within 2 1/2 games of Arizona in the West. The Diamondbacks lost 2-1 to San Francisco.

"Pitching at Dodger Stadium is never easy. Those guys don't quit coming," Peavy said. "I can't say enough about the offense. The boys swung the bats."

In other NL games, it was: Milwaukee 6, Pittsburgh 1; Houston 5, Chicago 4 in 11 innings; Atlanta 13, New York 5; Cincinnati 7, St. Louis 2; and Florida 13, Washington 8.

The Padres lost their previous two series, to Arizona and Colorado. Peavy (17-6) got them off to a fast start in this three-game set.

Peavy gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings.

"It just comes down to executing pitches," he said. "This late in the season, you've definitely got to pick and choose your spots and save your bullets. When your team is up four, six runs, you pitch differently than you do when it's a 0-0 game or a 1-0 game."

Esteban Loaiza (1-1) was not sharp on seven days' rest, walking three of the first four hitters. He allowed six runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings.