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 The result of the offensive explosion was an 8-2 win over the
Cincinnati Reds at Petco Park.
The Padres hit .171 in June, the lowest monthly batting average for
a major league team since the dead-ball era of 1920. San Diego
averaged 2.2 runs a game last month.
On Tuesday, though, they worked over Reds starter Mike Leake and
four relievers to record a third consecutive win.
Padres right fielder Seth Smith opened the game with his ninth
homer, and he finished with three hits.
Left fielder Carlos Quentin drove in three runs with a 416-foot
homer and a sacrifice fly.
All 11 Padres who took a cut got a hit. In addition to Smith's three
hits, Quentin, catcher Yasmani Grandal and shortstop Alexi Amarista
each had two hits. All four also had doubles to go with the homers
by Smith and Quentin.
"I thought we had good at-bats all night from a number of guys," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It takes a number of games and
at-bats to get momentum, it doesn't turn on one night, but this was
a good sign. When good things happen, guys loosen up."
The beneficiary of Tuesday's breakout was Padres right-hander Ian
Kennedy, who halted a personal three-decision losing streak.
Kennedy, who also had a run-scoring single, allowed one run on seven
hits and a walk with five strikeouts over six innings.
"Starting off with that home run by Smith was awesome," said Kennedy
(6-9).
Reds manager Bryan Price said of Leake, "Mike certainly made a
mistake to Smith to lead off the game, but I think you need to give
them some credit.
"I know they have not been a robust offense to this point so far
this year, but they did some good things by battling and putting
some balls in play with two strikes. When we made a mistake, they
were able to find some grass in the outfield."
The assault began with the game's first hitter as Smith snapped a
0-for-17 drought with a home run on an 0-2 pitch against Leake. The
home run travelled 394 feet and was the Padres' first home run since
Tommy Medica connected in San Francisco seven games ago.
The Padres made it 2-0 in the second as Kennedy joined the attack.
With two outs, Amarista, second baseman Irving Falu and Kennedy hit
consecutive singles to produce a run.
The Reds halved the deficit in the fifth. Shortstop Zack Cozart
opened the inning with a single, moved to second on Leake's
sacrifice bunt and to third on center fielder Billy Hamilton's
groundout to short. Third baseman Todd Frazier drove Cozart home
with a single to center.
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The Padres regained their two-run margin in the bottom of the
inning.
Smith opened with a double to the base of the wall in right and
scored on Chase Headley's single past Reds second baseman Brandon
Phillips.
Leake, a native of San Diego County, allowed three runs on 11 hits
over 5 2/3 innings.
Quentin's fourth homer of the season -- a shot deep into the second
balcony of the Western Metal Supply Building -- capped a four-run
seventh.
"That was loud and far," Smith said of Quentin's homer.
Quentin drove in the Padres final run with a sacrifice fly in the
eighth.
The game ended on an odd note -- a walk-off challenge.
The Reds scored once in the ninth on catcher Devin Mesoraco's 15th
homer, and they loaded the bases with two outs against new father
Tim Stauffer. Pinch hitter Ryan Ludwick hit a sharp grounder to
third baseman Chase Headley, who threw to second for a force on
Frazier.
Second base umpire Chad Fairchild ruled Frazier beat the throw and
was safe. However, Black appealed and the replay review showed
Frazier was out -- ending the game.
NOTES: Padres 2B Jedd Gyorko, out since June 5 with plantar
fasciitis in his left foot, said he felt no pain Tuesday after the
cast and protective boot were removed. ... San Diego SS Everth
Cabrera was a late scratch from the lineup with a left hamstring
strain that could land him on the disabled list. ... Reds INF Jack
Hannahan, out since the start of the season with a right shoulder
injury, has started a throwing program. ... Reds manager Bryan
Price, who is working with a four-man bench, said RHP Mike Leake
could be pressed into service if the Reds need an additional pinch
hitter in an extra-inning game.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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