Kendrick homers, notches win against Padres
SAN DIEGO -- Kyle Kendrick yielded three runs in five innings and hit his first career home run on Monday as the Rockies edged the Padres, 6-4, at Petco Park.
Kendrick, who won for just the fifth time in 23 starts this season, allowed seven hits and had four strikeouts. Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu each had two hits and scored two runs. It was the first win for the Rockies at Petco Park this season.
"It was a good day for [Kendrick], gets a W and hits a home run," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He has been working back, it's only his second start after being out a long time. Still trying to build him up, but he did a great job, put us in a position to win that game."
Video: COL@SD: LeMahieu opens scoring with RBI triple
Matt Kemp had a two-run home in the first inning for the Padres, though he also failed to catch a Daniel Descalso fly ball in right field in the third inning that led to two runs as he was charged with an error.
Ian Kennedy took the loss, allowing six runs, four earned, in five innings.
Video: COL@SD: Axford gets Solarte to end game, earn save
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Sun Strikes: In the third inning with runners on second and third and with two outs, Descalso lofted a ball to right field, which looked like a routine play for Kemp, who drifted back on the ball. However, while looking into the sun, Kemp dropped the ball, which allowed two runs to score as Descalso took third base. Kemp was charged with an error. More >
Video: COL@SD: Rockies score two on Kemp's fielding error
Big bat Matt: Kemp continued his torrid second half with a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the first inning after the Rockies jumped out to a 2-0 lead. For Kemp, it was his 19th home run of the season. The ball was smoked to left field, and Statcast™ tracked it having a 107-mph exit velocity. Kemp has 44 RBIs in 46 games in the second half
Video: COL@SD: Kemp belts two-run homer in the 1st inning
A first for everything: Kendrick hit his first career home run, blasting a 368-foot homer to left field, as the ball hit of the second deck of the Western Metal Supply Building. It took Kendrick 368 career at-bats before notching his first homer.
"Was looking for a fastball and ran into one I guess," Kendrick said. "It was fun, I enjoyed it." More >
Video: COL@SD: Kendrick hits solo shot for first MLB homer
A near-miss: Wil Myers narrowly missed a grand slam in the sixth inning, as his drive to left field would hook foul late, bouncing off the side of the Western Metal Supply Building. Colorado reliever Justin Miller eventually struck him out to preserve a 6-4 lead.
"That typified what the game was about today," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said of the Myers' near-miss and the missed opportunities throughout the game (4-for-11 with runners in scoring position).
Video: COL@SD: Miller fans Myers to escape bases-loaded jam
QUOTABLE
"It's the worst. You don't expect it, especially the pitcher in that lineup. He did a pretty good job of letting us know." -- Kennedy, on allowing a home run to Kendrick, and his displeasure with how Kendrick reacted to the home run.
Video: COL@SD: Kennedy fans nine over five innings
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
When Padres catcher Austin Hedges cut down Nolan Arenado trying to steal second base in the fifth inning Monday, it marked the 49th CCS (catcher caught stealing) for the Padres this season -- that's the most in the big leagues. Derek Norris has 35 of them and Hedges has 14.
ARENADO OUT
Arenado left Monday's game in the eighth inning with a chest contusion. X-rays were negative and he'll be re-evaluated Tuesday. Arenado went into the stands trying to grab a foul ball hit by Myers in the sixth inning and then swung awkwardly during his final at-bat, a strikeout in the seventh inning. Arenado was replaced at third base by Rafael Ynoa.
"It was hurting and it kind of got tight a little bit and every time I threw it kind of hurt and that last at-bat it was feeling sore," Arenado said. "But I will be ok, I got an X-ray and everything looked good. Hopefully tomorrow I feel good and I expect to be in the lineup tomorrow." More >
Video: COL@SD: Arenado shaken up after diving into stands
UPTON JR. EJECTED
San Diego outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. was ejected in the ninth inning by home-plate umpire Mike Muchlinski -- but only after he grounded out for the first out of the inning. Based on replays, Upton appeared to take exception with a called strike earlier in the count.
Video: COL@SD: M. Upton Jr. gets tossed in the 9th
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Padres had already scored a run and had runners on the corners, trailing 6-3, in the fourth inning when Hedges lined a ball up the middle that Kendrick snagged, saving a run. He then alertly threw to first base to double off Norris to end the inning.
Video: COL@SD: Kendrick snares liner, doubles off Norris
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: The Rockies will send Jon Gray to the mound, as the right-hander makes his seventh career start on Tuesday for a 8:10 p.m. MT game. Gray last faced the Padres on Aug. 15, when he allowed five hits and one run in five innings. Gray is still looking for his first Major League win.
Padres: Rookie Colin Rea (2-2, 5.47 ERA) will make his sixth big league start, but his first against the Rockies on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. PT. He pitched well the last time out against the Dodgers, allowing two earned runs over five innings in a no-decision.
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