Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Yasmani Grandal cracked a pinch-hit, go-ahead
two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning, lifting the San Diego Padres to
an 8-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a three-game set.
Chris Denorfia tallied four hits and three runs scored for the Padres, who
earned their first three-game road sweep of the Diamondbacks in franchise
history. They've won a season-high five straight overall.
Huston Street retired all three batters he saw in the ninth for his 13th save
of the season, while Luke Gregerson (2-0) struck out the final two batters in
the seventh to pick up the win.
Grandal, who hit homers in his first three career hits within the last week,
has six RBI in just six career major league games.
Jason Kubel belted a three-run shot for Arizona, which has dropped five
straight and seven of its last nine contests.
After Willie Bloomquist's RBI single in the seventh tied the game at 4-4, the
Padres mustered a pair of two-out runs to surge ahead in the eighth.
Logan Forsythe was hit by a pitch by David Hernandez (1-2) and Grandal
followed -- pinch-hitting for John Baker -- and smacked a towering shot that
just cleared the wall and Justin Upton's glove in right.
The Padres added two insurance runs in the ninth. Denorfia, who led off
with a double, scored on Bryan Shaw's throwing error following Alexi
Amarista's sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Yonder Alonso ripped an RBI
double to right.
Pinch-hitter Stephen Drew laced an RBI double and scored on a groundout off
the bat of Aaron Hill in Arizona's last at-bat to account for the final
margin.
Chase Headley's RBI triple in the opening frame helped the Padres build a 1-0
lead, but Arizona responded with three runs in its half of the inning when
Kubel pulverized a three-run shot to right.
The Padres regained the lead after plating a run in each of the third, fourth
and seventh innings. Alonso slapped an RBI single in the third, Jason Marquis
smacked a run-scoring double in the fourth and Amarista registered an RBI
single in the seventh for a 4-3 Padres edge.
Game Notes
Hill extended his home hitting streak to 19 games...Prior to the game, the
Padres placed pitcher Andrew Cashner on the 15-day disabled list with a
strained right latissimus dorsi. Brad Brach was recalled to take Cashner's
place on the roster...Arizona starter Ian Kennedy surrendered four runs on
nine hits and a walk in seven innings, while Marquis allowed four runs on
eight hits in 6 1/3 frames.
The Sports Network