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Slam by Alonso a game-changer for Padres

CINCINNATI -- Before the Reds traded Yonder Alonso to the Padres following the 2011 season, he had the brief opportunity to get a taste of what it's like to play at Great American Ball Park and the adventure that can be.

"I've played here," Alonso said after the Padres' 9-7 win on Saturday. "I've seen plenty of things happen like what happened today."

Well, maybe not too many.

Alonso's grand slam in the seventh inning tied a game the Padres trailed at several points, one they would win after Matt Kemp hit a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning.

But there's no mistake the biggest blow of the game was Alonso's grand slam with two outs in the seventh inning off Reds lefty reliever Tony Cingrani on the ninth pitch of the at-bat

"He just kept fouling pitches off and he finally got one," said Padres manager Bud Black. "That was such a huge lift for us. That was such a momentum changer for us."

Video: SD@CIN: Padres discuss comeback win over Reds

For Alonso, it was survival, plain and simple.

"I'm just trying to get a strike. That's my approach," he said. "That's a tough left-hander. My whole approach was just not to expand [the strike zone]. If I was going to get out, I wanted to make it a good out."

Instead, he hit one out, though it barely made it -- and instant replay was needed to make sure there wasn't fan interference.

Alonso missed 23 games recently with a right shoulder bruise and just came off the disabled list on Tuesday. Since returning, he has eight hits in 15 at-bats with one home run and six RBIs.

Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. Keep track of @FollowThePadres on Twitter and listen to his podcast.
Read More: San Diego Padres, Yonder Alonso