"We've played our best ball against the best teams, the best pitchers," Peavy said. "I think that says a lot about the character of our ballclub."
Derided for their mediocre record all season, the Padres saved their finest efforts for the league's elite.
They were 5-1 against the NL East champion Braves and on the verge of doing something no NL team had achieved against Atlanta -- sweeping the season series -- before letting the final game in Atlanta get away in the late innings.
The Friars were 4-3 against the NL Central champion Cardinals, taking three of four in a May series in St. Louis, including the first three games.
Finally, they were 12-6 against the Giants, their prime competition in the NL West, taking three of four in the last week of the season to clinch.