Padres beat the M’s 5-4 Sunday afternoon to take the weekend series against their natural rival and, more importantly, put interleague play behind us for another year. Woody Williams pitched very well for six innings and then gave up an improbable three-run home run to rookie catcher Rene Rivera in the seventh to tie the game.

Unfortunately the Friars had been denied a big inning in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a spectacular double play started by Bret Boone off the bat of Mark Sweeney. The home team had runners at first and second with nobody out and a 3-1 count on Sweeney, who ripped a sharp grounder that looked to be headed into center field. Boone, however, made a diving stop and flipped the ball over his shoulder to shortstop Mike Morse, who completed the deuce.

But the bullpen held serve, with Rudy Seanez getting out of a runner on third with one out jam in the eighth. Seanez wasn’t his usual dominant self, failing to record a strikeout for the first time since May 29 at San Francisco (a span of 11 appearances), but got the job done. Then Damian Jackson, who had led off the bottom of the first with a homer to left, drilled his second solo shot to start the home half of the eighth. Jackson finished the afternoon 4-for-4 with two bombs and three RBI.

Xavier Nady, getting another start in center field, hit his third home run in as many days. This one landed in the third deck of the Western Metal Supply Building beyond left field. Nady joins Khalil Greene (twice) and Miguel Cabrera as the only hitters to reach that spot.

Trevor Hoffman came on to seal the deal. After a leadoff single by Raul Ibanez, Boone grounded into a double play. Ichiro Suzuki, given the day off, came up to bat for Morse and represented the Mariners’ last hope. But Happy Feet hit a soft line drive to center that landed harmlessly in Nady’s glove to end the game.

Outfielder Ben Johnson, just up from Portland (where he was hitting .299/.387/.551 in 274 AB), made his big-league debut, taking over for Klesko in left for defensive purposes. More on Johnson.

Seattle is having a rough go of it this season, but that is a pretty good ballclub. They battle. And Jeremy Reed joins Geoff Jenkins among the ranks of outfielders I’d just as soon not see play the Padres again.

Next up, three against the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine. The matchups:

Mon. (7:10 p.m.): Tim Stauffer vs D.J. Houlton

Tue. (7:10 p.m.): Brian Lawrence vs Elmer Dessens
Wed. (12:10 p.m.): Darrell May vs Jeff Weaver

All games televised on Channel 4.