Schimpf, Solarte carry Pads over D-backs

July 6th, 2016

PHOENIX -- It took just one big inning by the Padres to turn around Wednesday night's game at Chase Field.
After facing an early four-run deficit, San Diego struck for five in the fourth to shift momentum in its favor in a 13-6 win over the D-backs. The Padres added another run in the fifth, then tacked on three more in the seventh and four more in the ninth to seal the victory.
Ryan Schimpf hit a pair of homers for his first career multi-homer game, driving in three runs. Yangervis Solarte went 3-for-5, a triple shy of the cycle, with five RBIs. Wil Myers and Matt Kemp also collected three hits apiece. San Diego flamethrower Jose Dominguez (1-0) earned the win, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings, including a strikeout of Rickie Weeks with two outs and the bases loaded in the fifth -- and the game hanging in the balance.

"The biggest moment of the game was Jose Dominguez coming in," said Padres manager Andy Green. "He's got a pinch-hitter up there who handles fastballs. … He rips one by Rickie Weeks and then comes back out and has another shutout inning. It's right in the middle of the game where it could pivot either way, and those were big pitches from him."
D-backs starter Shelby Miller (2-9) lost his third consecutive start, blowing his team's early lead. Brandon Drury and Jake Lamb each hit two-run homers and Chris Herrmann and Yasmany Tomas drove in a run each, but Arizona lost for the ninth time in 12 games and dropped its fourth straight home series.
For Lamb, it was his 20th home run of the season and his fourth against left-handed pitching.
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"It was a tough one to watch," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "[Miller] was so good for three innings, it was like, 'Is this guy going to throw a nine-inning shutout tonight?' And then, boom, it happened quick."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Four, and counting: Schimpf has showcased his power at every level, hitting at least 22 blasts in the Minor Leagues during each of the previous five seasons. The first of his two homers Wednesday night was a 107-mph missile into the right-field seats, driving in Melvin Upton Jr. and putting the Padres on top, 5-4. He'd tack on another homer in the ninth, giving him 19 this season between Triple-A and the Majors -- and four in the past week.
"I've been working and preparing for this moment from all the years I spent in the Minor Leagues, practicing and playing like I would be here at some point," Schimpf said. More >

Shelby struggles continue: The season-long struggles by Miller continued as he allowed six runs on seven hits over five innings. Miller seemed to be on his way to a decent outing after allowing just one hit over the first three innings, but things fell apart for him in the fourth.
"They were ambushing early," Miller said. "Once they're kind of hunting heaters and getting ahead, hitting balls in the gap and stuff like that, runs happen quickly here." More >

Kemp crushes: Kemp has been red hot at the dish since the start of June, batting .320/.355/.438 in 31 games. He added three hits Wednesday, including a two-run single during a three-run seventh inning that helped put the game out of reach. Kemp's single scored Travis Jankowski and Myers -- whose read on the ball was so good that he nearly passed Jankowski around third base.

Rea gets some rest: Padres starter Colin Rea, who allowed four runs over 4 2/3 frames Wednesday, was handed a heavy workload during the first half of the season. He's thrown 87 1/3 innings -- and has never before thrown 140 in a single year.
In an effort to ease the burden, Rea -- who is the first starter to complete the first half -- will open the second half of the season at the back of the rotation. The way it lines up, he'll get a 12-day break between starts.
"Right now, it's actually a great time for him to take a little bit of a breather, take a step back," Green said. "[He's] going to come back on the back side of the rotation in the second half, and I think he'll come back rejuvenated and ready to go"
Said Rea of a first half in which he posted a 4.95 ERA: "I'm a little disappointed in the way I performed in the first half. I've been pretty inconsistent, just by the standards I've had for myself. I've had a good game and two bad ones, then a decent game, then a bad one. That's the biggest thing. Going into the second half, I've got to be more consistent, start-to-start."
WHAT'S NEXT
Padres:Drew Pomeranz wasn't named to the National League All-Star team, but he's certainly in contention for a potential replacement spot. In that regard, Thursday's start against the Dodgers could serve as a bit of an audition for the 27-year-old lefty, who owns a 2.65 ERA (eighth in the NL) and a .571 OPS-against (third). First pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m. PT.
D-backs: After taking Thursday off, the D-backs will open a three-game series in San Francisco on Friday night with Patrick Corbin getting the start. Corbin allowed five runs (two earned) over 5 1/3 innings last time out against the Giants.
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