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Prior to signing with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Andy OBrien was nearly done with professional soccer.Now the 35-year-old central defender doesnt want the journey to end — and with good reason.Three straight victories, including a massive 1-0 road win over the Seattle Sounders last week, has the Whitecaps in control their own destiny as they push for a playoff spot.Four points in their final two regular-season games — beginning with Saturdays road matchup against the lowly San Jose Earthquakes — would guarantee Vancouver a post-season berth for the second time in three years, while anything less over the final two weeks puts other results in play.Its a startling turnaround for a team that was left for dead just a few weeks ago, and one that OBrien partly credits to a candid players meeting last month.I think the pennys dropped. I think we understand the importance of the time of the year, he said before departing for San Jose. It was mentioned that not everybodys going to be here next year and weve got a real opportunity to make a statement to do something together. I think were determined to continue what weve got for as long as possible.With more than 300 games in the English Premier League under his belt, OBrien joined the Whitecaps midway through the 2012 campaign. In 2014, he has been instrumental in calming a defence that lost captain Jay DeMerit to retirement in July and has had to offset a lack of goals at the other end of the pitch.But even OBrien — who sat out seven straight games from June 28 to July 30 because of injury and coaching decisions — didnt expect to enjoy his tenure in Major League Soccer this much.I think in 2011 — these were only private thoughts — I was close to packing it in. When I say pack it in, stop playing football, said OBrien, who was born in England but played 26 times for Ireland at the international level. It taught me that even though you can go through a rough period, if you can keep digging away theres light at the end of the tunnel.Ive certainly enjoyed my time here. I think physically Im as fit as Ive ever been. Mentally, Im really enjoying coming into work every day.The players have talked a lot about the spirit in the squad, and OBrien said the additions of Pedro Morales, Matias Laba and Sebastian Fernandez — among others — have been instrumental in creating a unique camaraderie.The South American boys that weve brought in are the life and soul of the dressing room — they keep chanting my name for some reason, OBrien said with a laugh. I dont know why that is, but Ive found it a real nice experience and one that Ill learn from.I think it is a special dressing room. Its certainly one that Ive enjoyed being a part of this year, and long may it continue.The next critical step in that process comes Saturday when Vancouver (11-8-13) will try to avoid a letdown against San Jose (6-15-11), a team playing for pride and jobs next year after firing its head coach this week. The Western Conference bottom feeders are also looking to end a 13-game winless streak and are suiting up for their final outing at Buck Shaw Stadium before moving into new digs next season.Needless to say, the hosts should have plenty of motivation.Its a tricky game for us because obviously theyve just lost their manager, theyre out of the playoffs and theyve got nothing to lose, said Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. We have got a lot to lose because were in a good run of form at the moment and were trying to challenge for the playoffs. Its a very difficult game for us, but the guys will be ready.Vancouver has already beaten San Jose twice at home in 2014, but road games are a different beast in MLS, regardless of the perceived level of competition.Going to San Jose, a little bit of a wounded animal, is not going to be easy, said Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted. Weve played some good games, but now is the time to continue the good form and go in and still show that even though were happy with the last three games were not done working.Vancouver and Portland are tied on points for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference after the Timbers had to settle for a disappointing scoreless draw at home against Real Salt Lake on Friday night. The result is a massive boost for the Whitecaps, who have two games left on the schedule to Portlands one.Its about catching your form at the right time and I think weve done that in the last three games, Robinson said prior to Fridays action. Weve still got two games to go. Theres always one team that gets in the playoffs late that no one probably expects, and no one probably expected us a few games ago if Im being honest.Vancouver will be without defender Kendall Waston because of yellow card accumulation, but midfielder/striker Sebastian Fernandez is available after a one-game ban.OBrien — who has formed a good partnership with Waston — doesnt have a contract for next season, but said he plans to continue his playing career in 2015 if the Whitecaps or another team want him.For now though, all hes worried about is Saturdays game in San Jose.Weve got to concentrate on our job in hand, which is try to get the right result, said OBrien. Destiny is in our own hands. Weve talked enough about it. Were coming down to the nitty gritty stage now.Notes: Johnny Leveron looks set to replace Waston alongside OBrien in defence. Leveron started 12 straight games for Vancouver in July and August before picking up an injury while on international duty with Honduras. ... Fernandez scored twice in Vancouvers 2-0 win over FC Dallas on Oct. 4. ... Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear will lead San Jose next season after the Earthquakes fired Mark Watson and assistant Nick Dasovic on Wednesday. San Jose assistant Ian Russell survived the cull and will serve as interim head coach for the final two games of the season prior to Kinnear taking over. ... Watson and Dasovic are both former members of the Canadian national team. ... San Jose has not won since Aug. 2, a 1-0 home victory over Seattle. ... Vancouvers final game of the regular season is at B.C. Place Stadium on Oct. 25 against the Colorado Rapids, while Portland visits Dallas the same day.———Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter Sam Hubbard Bengals Jersey . 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SAN FRANCISCO -- Jesse Hahn learned everything he knows about sports from his father. The San Diego Padres are happy he was paying attention. Hahn pitched six strong innings, Alexi Amarista drove in three runs on three hits and San Diego handed the stumbling San Francisco Giants their 12th loss in the past 15 games, 7-2 Tuesday night. "Thats an old school curveball," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Its top to bottom and he has a good feel for it. Not many guys throw it that way, which is a good thing." Hahns father, Fred, showed him the grip and hes thrown it the same way ever since. "Im throwing it for more strikes now," Hahn said. "I just kept throwing it and got comfortable with it. He showed me in high school. He taught me everything about football, basketball and baseball. He was a pretty good athlete himself." Will Venable drove in two runs and Hahn (3-1) earned his third straight victory for the Padres, who won their fifth in the last seven games. "We have a few more guys swinging the bat better," Black said. "Were getting the big hits." Tim Hudson (7-4) lost for the first time at home this season, allowing six runs -- four earned -- on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four. "I felt pretty good," Hudson said. "You have to give them credit. When I made a mistake, they were able to take advantage." Hudson has allowed a combined 13 runs over his last two starts after giving up 19 over his first 13. Hudson was 6-0 in his first 11 starts against San Diego and has since lost three of four. "Hes elevating the ball more than hed like," Black said. "His stuff and his pitches all look the same. Its probably location more than anything." Hahn allowed his first earned run in 18 innings when Pablo Sandoval scurried home on Tyler Corbins infield groundout in the fifth. He yielded two runs on four hits over six innings. Hahn walked one and struck out a season-high eight. Haahn retired the first 12 hitters before giving up back-to-back singles to Sandoval and Michael Morse opening the fifth.dddddddddddd Amarista, 1 for 9 against Hudson entering the game, was hitless in his eight previous at bats, though hes 9 for 25 (.360) in his last eight games. Cameron Maybin added two hits and drove in a run for the Padres. Hudson got three double plays in the first four innings before a fifth-inning error on rookie Joe Panik, his second of the game, helped the Padres score twice to open a 3-0 lead. Jake Gobbert, in his first start since being recalled Thursday, singled and Maybin was safe on Paniks miscue. Amarista doubled in a run and Venable, who hit a sacrifice fly in the third, drove in a run on a groundout. "Those are the situations you have to find a way to push those guys across," Venable said. "The easy job is putting the ball in play after some great at bats." Amarista singled home a pair of runs and Maybin delivered an RBI single. Tommy Medica added a pinch-hit home run, the first of his career, with two outs in the eighth. Buster Posey doubled home a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-2. NOTES: Padres RHP Andrew Cashner, on the DL with a sore shoulder, is expected to play catch on Friday in San Diego. ... The Padres lost a seventh-inning review on Brandon Crawfords infield single. The review lasted 2:09. . RHP Ian Kennedy (5-8, 3.90) starts Wednesdays series finale for the Padres. Hes 7-3 with a 2.49 ERA in 18 starts against the Giants. . RHP Tim Lincecum (5-5, 4.90) makes the start for the Giants. Hes 14-6 with a 2.47 ERA in 27 career starts against the Padres. ... Giants IF Brandon Belt (broken left thumb) ran the bases and will likely start his rehab assignment Thursday with the San Jose Giants. ... Giants OF Angel Pagan (back tightness) took batting practice and was to be re-evaluated to determine whether he would be in the lineup or put on the DL. Hes missed eight straight games. 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