PHOENIX — The old man knew how to rise to the occasion.

David Wells saved his best of the season for when it was needed most, a dominating performance that has the San Diego Padres in the postseason for the second year in a row.

The 43-year-old left-hander threw six scoreless innings, not even allowing an Arizona runner to reach second base, and the Padres clinched a playoff berth with a 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks yesterday.

"This is what I live for," Wells said. "This is what I've played for is the opportunity to pitch in a big game when it counted. There's nothing better."

Wells (1-2), who missed his previous start with gout in his right foot, allowed four hits, struck out three and walked one in his 230th career win.

Mike Cameron hit a two-run homer to power San Diego. Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his NL-leading 45th save.

"It turns out it was a very big hit at the time," Cameron said. "I couldn't be any happier than I am right now, just to get an opportunity to go out there and do it again."

The Padres didn't get a hit until Russell Branyan's single off Edgar Gonzalez (3-8) to lead off the fifth. Cameron followed with a 455-foot shot far into the left field seats, his 22nd home run of the season, for a 2-0 lead. Josh Bard added and RBI single off Gonzalez's glove in the sixth.

Arizona's Stephen Drew hit a solo homer off reliever Cla Meredith in the seventh.

Mets 13, Nationals 0: Julio Franco tied a career high with five RBIs, helping Tom Glavine (15-7) earn his 290th career win as NL East champion New York beat host Washington.

Pirates 3, Reds 0: Marty McLeary (2-0), a 32-year-old journeyman minor leaguer most of his career, pitched seven shutout innings in only his second major league start and host Pittsburgh defeated Cincinnati.

Rockies 11, Cubs 9: Jeff Baker singled in two runs with two out in the 14th inning, and Colorado recovered after squandering an eight-run lead to beat host Chicago.

Astros 5, Braves 4: Pinch-hitter Orlando Palmeiro's single drove in the tiebreaking run as Houston scored three times in the ninth inning, then held off host Atlanta.

Cardinals 3, Brewers 2: Pinch-hitter Scott Spiezio hit a bases-loaded triple with two outs in the eighth inning and host St. Louis cut its magic number for clinching the NL Central to one by beating Milwaukee.

Phillies 4, Marlins 3: Ryan Howard's RBI single put visiting Philadelphia ahead to stay in the third, and five relievers combined to shut out Florida over the final 7 1/3 innings. Philadelphia was eliminated from the NL wild-card when the Dodgers and Padres won.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

White Sox 6, Twins 3: Jon Garland (18-7) took a shutout into the ninth inning before Michael Cuddyer hit a three-run home run with one out, and Tadahito Iguchi had a homer and three RBIs, leading Chicago over host Minnesota. The Twins missed a chance to move ahead in the division, leaving Detroit needing one win or a loss by Minnesota to clinch the AL Central. The Tigers won the season series with the Twins and will win the division if the teams finish tied.

Angels 7, Athletics 6: Chone Figgins drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in the eighth inning with a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning, and Francisco Rodriguez set a club record with his 47th save as host Los Angeles beat Oakland.

Indians 6, Devil Rays 1: Jake Westbrook (15-10) allowed one run in seven innings and Casey Blake hit two solo homers to help host Cleveland beat Tampa Bay.

Blue Jays 6, Yankees 5: Alex Rios hit a go-ahead, two-run triple against T.J. Beam in a four-run seventh inning to beat host New York. Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield each hit a home run for the Yankees.

Mariners 3, Rangers 1: Adrian Beltre homered twice and Felix Hernandez (12-14) allowed one run in seven innings to lead host Seattle over Texas.

Orioles 5, Red Sox 4: Kevin Millar's two-run single in the ninth inning scored Corey Patterson and Fernando Tatis as Baltimore beat host Boston.