SAN DIEGO -- The Padres have always valued Alexi Amaristas defensive versatility. Brandon Allen Rams Jersey . This time, the diminutive shortstop flashed a big bat. Amarista had three hits, including a two-run homer, to lead San Diego to a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night. Amaristas two-out homer in the sixth inning off A.J. Burnett (8-17) followed a walk to Jake Goebbert and put the Padres ahead 4-3. Amarista, who doubled in the second and singled in the fourth, fell a triple short of the cycle when he grounded out in the eighth. "It was a surprise about the home run," the 5-foot-6 Amarista said through a translator. "I had a lot of confidence in myself in that situation. I wasnt trying to hit the home run, but I got a good swing on it." Amarista, acquired by the Padres in a May 2012 trade with the Angels, has already equaled or surpassed his career highs in plate appearances, runs, hits, home runs and RBIs. And with San Diego shortstop Everth Cabrera having missed 53 games due to injuries, Amarista has filled in nicely for the former All-Star. "The last month, hes been as strong as any shortstop in the National League," San Diego manager Bud Black said. Burnett, who took his major league-leading 17th loss, was not happy with his outing. "Im not going to make excuses," he said. "I messed up. I walked a guy, and the curveball (to Amarista) wasnt down enough." San Diego won its second straight game after dropping nine of 11. Ian Kennedy (11-13) pitched six innings for the win. The right-hander allowed three runs and three hits with seven strikeouts and four walks. Kennedy had lost his previous two starts, giving up double-digit hits in both outings. Freddy Galvis hit a two-run homer in the fifth to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead. Dominic Brown had a solo homer in the second. Philadelphia, held to one hit by Andrew Cashner in a 1-0 loss Monday night, managed just five hits against Kennedy and three relievers. Kevin Quackenbush allowed an RBI single to pinch-hitter Darin Ruf in the ninth before closing out his fourth save. The Phillies have lost seven of 11. Burnett, who has gone 2-8 in his last 10 starts, gave up five runs -- four earned -- and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out four to pass Phillies Hall of Famer Robin Roberts for 43rd place on the career list with 2,361. TRAINERS ROOM Phillies: SS Jimmy Rollins took infield practice but is still not expected back before the weekend. Rollins has been out since Sept. 8 because of a strained left hamstring. Padres: OF Seth Smith did not start due to a sore right hamstring, although he walked as a pinch hitter. Smith tweaked his hamstring while making the final out on Monday. The left-handed-hitting Smith isnt scheduled to start Wednesday night against Phillies lefty Cole Hamels. UP NEXT Phillies: Hamels (8-7, 2.51 ERA), a San Diego native, has had great success when facing his hometown team, with an 8-2 record and an ERA of 2.21 in 15 career starts. Padres: LHP Eric Stults (7-16, 4.49) will try to avoid tying Burnett for the major league lead with 17 losses. JUST SHORT AGAIN With Amarista missing the cycle, the Padres and Miami Marlins are the only teams in the majors that havent had a player accomplish the feat. It was the 358th time the Padres have had a player fall one hit short. ANOTHER LOSING SEASON The loss dropped Philadelphia to 69-82, ensuring the clubs second consecutive losing season with 11 games remaining. IT NEVER RAINS IN CALIFORNIA With a rare summer shower that moved through San Diego in the late afternoon, although it missed Petco Park, the Padres issued a thunder alert. Early-arriving fans were cautioned to take cover until the alert was lifted 45 minutes before the game. Ramik Wilson Jersey . Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit. Joseph Noteboom Rams Jersey . - Suspended Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon has voluntarily checked into a treatment facility and seems to be doing well. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/Rams-John-Franklin-Myers-Jersey/ . LOUIS - Two-thirds of the St.IRVING, Texas - Brandon Carr stared away from a small group of reporters, looking a little emotional and unsure how or whether to answer a question he probably knew was coming.Breast cancer awareness month is a big deal in the NFL, putting pink on footballs, coaches, referees and all kinds of equipment worn by players throughout October.This year it arrived almost two months to the day after Kathy Carrs death following a long battle with the disease, during the early days of training camp when the Dallas Cowboys were without their high-priced cornerback while he spent his 59-year-old mothers final days with her.So yes, the leagues tribute means a little more to Carr now. And hes a different person these days, shutting out almost all things that arent football or family. His mom is part of the reason, but so is his teams surprising 3-1 start with the defence exceeding expectations.You just have to continue to try to live a great legacy and continue to motivate and do great things, Carr said. Thats what I took from everything my mom went through was she still was trying to get after it and motivate her grandchildren, kids at school or just whoever she came across. Im going to try to finish out her task.And that means helping the Cowboys, who face the equally surprising 3-1 Houston Texans on Sunday, break an 8-8 rut that has kept them out of the playoffs the past three seasons.The post-season drought is actually four years, or two years before Carr arrived on a $50 million free agent contract to address one of the teams biggest needs.Now hes consistently grading as the best defensive back Dallas has, and clearly seen as an emotional leader as well.Hes got an old soul ... you know, very mature for his age, said defensive end Jeremy Mincey, a free agent who joined the Cowboys this year. Hes a poised leader. Hes like Tony Dungy. Hes got the quiet strength. But hes speaking when it needs to be spoken, and thats what makes him special.Carr has had to put his quiet strength to the test several times in his three seasons with the Cowboys.During Carrs first year in Dallas in 2012, former Kansas City teammate Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend before driving to the team facility and killing himself. Belchers girlfriend was a close friend of Carrs fiancee, who is now his wife.Just a week later, Cowboys practice squad player Jerry Brown died in a car wreck that resulted in an intoxication manslaughter conviction for defensive tackle Josh Brent. Joseph Noteboom Jersey. Carr attended two memorial services in less than a week.This time around, he was back at practice just a few days after saying his final goodbye to his mom. He wears two bracelets that belonged to her so were skin on skin still.I think about her a lot, Carr said. I still sometimes I feel empty, and I dont know why. What Ive learned in this situation is that youre never alone. My mom always told me, Youre never the first and youre never the last. Thats true in this case. I just lean on people.The Cowboys are 3-1 for the first time since 2008, and the defence kept New Orleans out of the end zone for three quarters just a year after giving up an NFL-record 40 first downs.Carr isnt really interested in film-type talk about a turnaround engineered despite the loss of linebacker Sean Lee to a knee injury, defensive end DeMarcus Ware in a salary cap move and defensive tackle Jason Hatcher in free agency.He sees it as just another year in the system, more players knowing what opposing offences and their teammates are doing, and therefore being in better position to knock down passes or deliver hits that make receivers think twice before the next catch.And maybe the broken record of 8-8 seasons is part of it.You just get tired of the same results, get tired of the same story lines and everything, Carr said. All the disappointments.So Carr doesnt watch TV, doesnt look at the schedule. He swears he didnt know the Cowboys were visiting Super Bowl champion Seattle next week. He doesnt talk to a lot of people who used to be a regular part of his weekly chatter.His dads an exception, of course. The two have spent the past couple of weeks together, and when his dad was about to go home to Michigan earlier this week, Carr gave him the look that said, Nah, you cant leave.In my case, I can smile, Carr said. Its a victory that my mom was a strong fighter, courageous. Stood there in the midst of all the cancer, everything going bad for her, and was still able to experience life and her family. Thats what its all about to me. But this month is pretty big.Its big in paying homage to his mom, and getting the Cowboys closer to that elusive playoff berth.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Black Jerseys China NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Gear Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys China NFL Gear Cheap Authentic Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Jerseys China ' ' '