Solarte serves as catalyst, flirts with cycle

SAN DIEGO -- Yangervis Solarte was a triple shy of the cycle on Thursday night, as the Padres had a come-from-behind, 10-7 win in the first of a four-game series against the Dodgers at Petco Park.

In his last at-bat of the game, Solarte hit the ball down the left field-line, which looked like it maybe could have clinched him the cycle.

But Solarte, known for not being the fastest member of the Padres' squad, would settle for a double.

"Doesn't matter," Solarte said. "Hit the ball, and it was too close. Double's better than nothing."

When asked after the game if Solarte had a chance at a triple with his last hit, interim manager Pat Murphy answered without any hesitation, "No."

However, Murphy credited Solarte for his consistency this season.

"He was great all night tonight and he's been great for us this year," Murphy said. "Since I have be around I have seen him been as consistent as anybody. Him and [Matt Kemp] have been great. Justin and [Jedd] Gyorko now doing their thing. That gives us four pretty prominent hitters."

After San Diego's bullpen allowed five runs in the sixth inning, the Padres trailed, 7-5, heading into the seventh inning.

Solarte blasted a 407-foot homer onto the top deck of the Western Metal building out in left field, marking his 12th of the season.

Video: LAD@SD: Solarte collects home run, four hits in win

Solarte finished the day going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and scoring three runs.

"He had a great day," said Gyorko, who hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning. "He was a catalyst, like he's been for most of the season. He's locked in right now, and it's been huge for us."

Video: LAD@SD: Padres jump ahead on Gyorko's two-run homer

Solarte's four hits matched his career high for the third time, his last coming on July 29 this year against the Mets in New York.

"[Solarte], like Gyorko, I think you saw today, 'Hey I think I am a full-time player," Murphy said. "And he certainly is now."