Abbott, Brewers Belt Padres

May 30, 1999 / 8:11 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Jim Abbott hopes this is the start of something big.

Abbott won for the first time this season, pitching the Milwaukee Brewers past the San Diego Padres 10-3 Sunday and ending their five-game losing streak.

Abbott (1-5) began the day with a 7.86 ERA in nine games, including six starts. He earned his first NL victory after going 85-100 for the Yankees, Angels and White Sox.

Abbott allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out three and walked one.

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"When you're off to a start like I had, it feels great to win," he said. "But honestly, at this point in my career, I just want to see the team do well.

"I feel more confident and I'm starting to get into a routine. I got out of a couple of situations today that I hadn't been getting out of this season," he said. "Just being able to build off that will be helpful. Each start is its own entity. Hopefully, I can become steady, more consistent."

Alex Ochoa hit a three-run homer in the second inning for the Brewers. He was robbed of another three-run shot in the fourth when center fielder Ruben Rivera reached over the wall to make a catch.

Fernando Vina had three hits and drove in three runs. He had an RBI single during a five-run eighth as the Brewers broke it open.

Vina got his first three hits since coming off the disabled list and serving a two-game suspension.

"Abbott was excellent, but the win is wonderful for the ballclub," Brewers manager Phil Garner said. "Today we broke loose. Abbott kept us right there and that's what you have to do. I think he's throwing the ball much better."

Rivera hit a two-run homer in the second for a 2-0 lead. Ochoa put the Brewers ahead with his homer off Sterling Hitchcock (3-5), connecting after Marquis Grissom doubled with two outs and Sean Berry walked.

Rivera prevented another run from scoring in the third, taking away an extra-base hit from Jeff Cirillo with a catch against the fence.

"What may have got lost in this game is his game," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said of Rivera. "That was an unbelivable game he had.

"He probably saved five runs with his defense," he said. "It was a shame we came out on the losing end because that was as good a game as a guy can have."

Hitchcock walked the bases loaded in the sixth and Vina hit a two-out, two-run single.

Brewers reliever David Weathers got into trouble in the seventh when the Padres loaded the bases with one out.

Damian Jackson's RBI single made it 5-3, but Weathers made a barehanded grab of Eric Owens' slow roller and got a forceout at the plate.

Notes: Abbott was 5-0 for the White Sox last year. ... Reggie Sanders had an unusual stolen base in the first inning. Picked off first by Abbott, Sanders was safe when nobody covered second base for the Brewers. ... The Padres are 2-13 when opponents have started a left-hander. ... San Diego's Phil Nevin was 1-for-20 before a bloop double.