SAN DIEGO — It's been a nice year so far for the Cassel family of Northridge, Calif.

With his mother winning a creative arts Emmy and his younger brother's NFL team starting 2-0, it was Jack Cassel's turn to come up big on Monday night. The rookie right-hander pitched six solid innings for his first big league win, leading the San Diego Padres to a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Khalil Greene hit a two-run homer for the Padres, who retained their 1½-game lead in the wild-card race over Philadelphia. The two-time defending NL West champion Padres also pulled within one game of division-leading Arizona, which lost 8-5 to San Francisco.

Cassel and three relievers combined on the Padres' 20th shutout, tops in the majors and a franchise record.

With their 82nd win, the Padres are guaranteed their fourth straight winning season and just the 14th in franchise history.

After laboring for 7½ seasons in the minor leagues, Cassel finally made his big league debut this year. In his second stint with the Padres since mid-August, he was making his second start and fourth appearance.

After Trevor Hoffman extended his career saves record to 520 by getting the final three outs, he gave Cassel the ball from the final out.

"It makes all the hard work worth it," the 27-year-old Cassel said. "I definitely had my struggles, my ups and downs, as probably most minor leaguers do, along my journey. You're always fighting for No. 1, and everything after that is kind of the cherry on top. It's just an incredible feeling.

"To get that ball from Hoffy at the end of the game, words can't really put into place what it felt like out there."

Hoffman usually keeps the ball from the final out of his saves, except for special occasions such as another pitcher's first win.

"We passed a couple of balls back and forth, just signing, my first win and his millionth save, I guess," Cassel said. "We had some fun with that."

Cassel (1-0) started in place of Justin Germano, who was skipped in the rotation because he's been struggling. Manager Bud Black said Cassel pitched well enough to earn another start, Saturday night against the Colorado Rockies.

Cassel scattered eight hits over six innings while striking out three and walking none.

"My objective was to go out there and be me, essentially," he said. "I'm not going to overpower anybody, I'm going to try and throw strikes and get my groundballs and let this wonderful defense behind me work."

Cassel is the older brother of Matt Cassel, backup quarterback for the New England Patriots, who routed the San Diego Chargers 38-14 on Sunday night. The Padres had a team party Sunday night at the home of right fielder Brian Giles. Cassel said he didn't dare wear his brother's jersey because so many of his teammates are Chargers fans.

"I silently cheered from afar," he said. "The TV at Gilly's house is big enough to watch from across the yard. So, luckily I was back there cheering my heart out. Good thing we came out on top. I think I probably would have gone in the pool had I been cheering and the Chargers pulled it out."

On Sept. 8, Cassel's mother, Barbara, won a creative arts Emmy for art direction for "Tony Bennett: An American Classic."

"It's been a good '07," Jack Cassel said.

The Pirates had runners on first and third twice against the rookie but couldn't score. Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 38th save in 43 chances.