Padres cash in during 7th, win series vs. Halos
ANAHEIM -- Justin Upton and Matt Kemp came up big late, leading the Padres to a 5-4 win on Wednesday night to take two of three at Angel Stadium.
With two on and two outs in the top of the seventh -- and the score knotted at 3 -- Upton snuck a grounder through the left side and Kemp dumped a base hit into shallow right field against Garrett Richards, giving San Diego a two-run lead.
The Angels (23-24) cut their deficit to one in the eighth, when Mike Trout doubled and later scored on a Kole Calhoun sac fly. But Craig Kimbrel notched his 12th save in the ninth when Kemp threw out Johnny Giavotella at second base, as he tried to turn a single into a double.
The win gives the Padres (23-25) their first series victory since May 8-10. San Diego pitcher Andrew Cashner (2-7) allowed three runs in seven innings, winning for the first time since April 19. More >
Video: SD@LAA: Cashner strikes out six over seven innings
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Down the Middle(brooks): Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks jumped on a first-pitch hanging slider from Richards with one on in the fourth inning, connecting for his sixth home run of the season. With the Padres scuffling on offense, Middlebrooks might be heating up at the right time. He had two hits for his third multi-hit game in the last four.
Video: SD@LAA: Middlebrooks connects for a two-run homer
Glove issues: Richards gave up five runs, and though only three of them were earned, the two unearned runs came on his own error. In the seventh, four innings after dropping a feed from Albert Pujols at first base, Richards bobbled a sacrifice bunt by Austin Hedges. Two batters later, Upton and Kemp won the game with back-to-back RBI singles. Angels pitchers have accounted for 10 of the club's 29 errors this season. More >
"If he could've picked that bunt up, you could be looking at a little different situation," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Video: SD@LAA: Upton singles to put Padres ahead in the 7th
Two-out misery: Cashner's stuff was electric at times, but he couldn't quite escape a few innings unscathed. In fact, the three runs he allowed -- all to hitters in the bottom half of the order -- came with two outs. The game-tying home run by Matt Joyce in the sixth hurt the most.
"I thought I could've made some better pitches. My defense really picked me up tonight with some big plays, and the offense was swinging the bats really well," said Cashner, noting the Padres turned two big double plays behind him.
Video: SD@LAA: Amarista, Spangenberg turn fine double play
Taking a chance: Giavotella came on to pinch-hit with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the Angels trailing by one and lined a base hit into right-center field. Then he got a little too aggressive. Giavotella turned the corner and tried for second, but was thrown out on a perfect throw by Kemp.
"I knew that I could get in scoring position," Giavotella said. "That was my job, and that's what I was trying to do. I don't regret going … and I'd do it again if I had the chance."
QUOTABLE
"We know our pitching is good. It just hasn't clicked so far [offensively]. It seems we either don't pitch and hit really well. It's a matter of getting those two to click together." -- Middlebrooks
"You can't pitch like that, and not field your position, and expect to win. These guys battled, played a great game, and I gave it away." -- Richards
Video: SD@LAA: Hedges reaches on Richards' fielding error
CASHING IN FOR CASHNER
Cashner came into the game with just three runs of support in his last six combined starts. He had three runs by the fourth inning Wednesday. The five runs the Padres scored for him are the most since they scored five on April 19 against the Cubs.
"He's pitched much better than the record indicates. At the end of the day, Cash is about the team, about team wins. His individual won-loss record will definitely improve," said Padres manager Bud Black.
Video: Must C Catch: Venable makes it look easy in center
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
In allowing a two-out RBI double to Middlebrooks in the second, Richards ended his Interleague scoreless streak at 25 innings, which was tied with Jake Peavy for fourth all-time among starting pitchers.
Video: SD@LAA: Middlebrooks puts Padres up early with double
REPLAY REVIEW
The Angels asked for -- and won -- a review in the first inning when catcher Carlos Perez picked off the Padres' Yangervis Solarte at first base. Solarte was originally ruled safe but that call was overturned.
Video: SD@LAA: Perez nabs Solarte after Angels challenge
In the second inning, the Angels successfully contested Erick Aybar being caught trying to steal second base. Aybar was ruled out, but the call was eventually overturned.
Video: SD@LAA: Aybar gets stolen base after Angels challenge
WHAT'S NEXT
Padres: The Padres open a four-game series on Thursday against the Pirates, who are one of the hottest teams in baseball, having won their last six games. Ian Kennedy (2-4, 6.11) will get the start for San Diego. He allowed three earned runs in 12 innings (two starts) against the Pirates a year ago.
Angels: C.J. Wilson takes the ball at 7:05 p.m. PT on Thursday opposite right-hander Buck Farmer, when the Angels open up a four-game home series against the Tigers. Wilson is coming off back-to-back starts in which he allowed four runs vs. Toronto and Boston, raising his ERA from 2.62 to 3.36.
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