Starlin's single lifts Cubs past Padres in 11
Starlin Castro knocked in the game-winning run in the 11th inning with a bases-loaded single on Saturday as the Cubs edged the Padres, 7-6, before a crowd of 33,958 at Wrigley Field.
"Last year and the year before, we lost a lot of games like that," Castro said. "We played a lot of extra-inning games and lost. We play more than nine and we keep fighting and try to win."
The Padres scored four runs on six hits in the ninth inning as the Cubs couldn't close out the Padres, as relievers Phil Coke and Hector Rondon struggled after Miguel Montero hit two home runs to give them a four-run lead entering the inning.
Chicago rookie third baseman Kris Bryant, in his second big league game, got his first hit in the fifth inning, a bloop single to center that scored a run. He later beat out an infield single in the 11th inning.
Montero's sixth-inning home run came off Padres pitcher Tyson Ross who was staked to a two-run lead in first inning. Ross allowed three runs over 5 2/3 innings with five walks and nine strikeouts. Montero added a two-run shot in the seventh inning off Chris Rearick.
Chicago pitcher Kyle Hendricks settled down after a slow start, allowing one hit after the first inning. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter in six innings.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Video: SD@CHC: Bryant ties the game with first MLB hit
Second game: A day after making his highly anticipated Major League debut, Bryant got his first hit and RBI. He also made his first career error when he dropped a Wil Myers grounder in the first inning. Yonder Alonso then singled to left field, and left fielder Chris Coghlan threw to Bryant to tag Myers out at third. More >
Video: SD@CHC: Kemp's two-run shot is first Padres homer
About that Kemp home run: It took 12 games and 46 at-bats, but Matt Kemp on Saturday got his first home run with the Padres, as he jumped on a 0-2 fastball by Hendricks, lining it into the bleachers area out in left field, which is currently under construction. More >
Video: SD@CHC: Solarte ties game with RBI single to right
Wild ninth: The Padres' bats were mostly quiet Saturday -- until the ninth inning, as they scored four runs on six hits to tie the game. Justin Upton, Will Middlebrooks, Jedd Gyorko and pinch-hitter Yangervis Solarte had run-scoring hits. Solarte's single tied the game.
"We just battled. A hit here, a hit there, some big hits. We kept fighting. That shows the character of our team. We had good battle. That's a good sign for our team," Kemp said.
Video: SD@CHC: Montero hits second homer of the ballgame
Solo shot: Montero's go-ahead, solo home run in the sixth was his first with the Cubs and his first since Aug. 22, 2014, also against the Padres, when he played for the D-backs. It was also his second career two-homer game against the Padres and the first since Sept. 5, 2007.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
What do they say, it's not how you start but how you finish? Hendricks is a good example of that as he retired 17 of the final 18 hitters he faced. The only hit he allowed after the first inning was a single to his counterpart, Ross.
UPTON STRAINS LEFT QUAD
Upton departed the game after the 10th inning due to a slight strain of his left quad, manager Bud Black said. The injury happened the same inning when he doubled with two outs in the inning. Will Venable replaced him in left field in the 11th inning. Upton, Black said, is listed at day-to-day. More >
QUOTABLE
"Everything was kind of all over the place today. My breaking ball .. when I can't throw that for a strike, guys can sit on one pitch." -- Padres closer Craig Kimbrel, who took the loss, his first since Aug. 2, 2014, which was, oddly enough, against the Padres when he was still with the Braves.
REPLAY REVIEW
Video: SD@CHC: Bryant's single confirmed in 11th
San Diego's Bud Black used his manager's challenge in the fifth inning after Jonathan Herrera stole second base, barely beating the throw from catcher Wil Nieves. The replay official then determined that second baseman Jedd Gyorko's tag was applied to Herrera after he touched second base. Then in the 11th inning, there was a crew chief review on Bryant's infield single. The call was confirmed.
WHAT'S NEXT
Padres: The Padres send former Cub Andrew Cashner to the mound on Sunday in the series finale. Cashner, who was drafted by the Cubs, was traded to the Padres before the 2012 season. He struck out nine in six innings against the D-backs the last time out.
Cubs: Jon Lester will start the series finale against the Padres after allowing nine runs in 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts. He has faced the Padres once in his career, giving up one run in seven innings on July 3, 2013, when he was with the Red Sox.
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