3.02 ERA. He posted the best day game ERA in the National League (2.34), and became the third Padres pitcher, after Juan Eichelberger and Doug Brocail, to steal two bases in a single season. His batting average (.289) led all major league pitchers. Eaton's first full season in the major leagues, , produced mixed results. Eaton suffered a bizarre injury when he accidentally stabbed himself in the stomach while trying to open a DVD package with a paring knife, and underwent season-ending "Tommy John" surgery on August 21. Before his injuries, Eaton posted an 8–5 record with a 4.32 ERA. This season also produced his first two career complete games, and he posted two ten-strikeout games against the Houston Astros and the San Francisco Giants. 2002–03 After recovering from Tommy John surgery, Eaton made six appearances at the end of the season for San Diego, finishing his season with a 1–1 record and posting a 1.71 ERA over his last three starts. He pitched each of his six starts against National League West opponents. Eaton's ERA was a career low (4.08), but he only managed a 9–12 record over his second full season. He pitched at least seven innings in ten of his 31 starts, including a season-high eight innings to earn his third complete game of his career against the Cleveland Indians. Though he started the season weakly, July was Eaton's top month; he posted a 4–0 record and a 2.81 ERA in the month. His nine wins were a career high. 2004–05 was a career year for Eaton, as he reached new levels in wins, with 11; starts, with 33; innings pitched, with ; and strikeouts, with 153. He beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, a San Diego rival, four times during the season, posting a 4–1 record and a 2.87 ERA against them. He also won eight games on the road, posting a 2.66 ERA during his seven-game winning streak away from new Petco Park. In a game against the Royals in July he became the eighth different Padre to take a no-hitter into the eighth inning, but was unable to complete the task. In his last year as a Padre, Eaton posted a 9–1 record over his first 13 starts. He pitched his way to a 10–5 record with an ERA of 4.27, but he went on the disabled list in the middle of June with a