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 Second baseman Yangervis Solarte and right fielder Jeff Francoeur
went a combined 3-for-7 with three runs scored to lead the Padres to
a 8-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.
"(Solarte) looked good, everything as advertised -- sure handed and
swings the bat from both sides -- and it was good to get him
acclimated," Padres manager Bud Black said. "And Jeff plays with a
lot of passion and he has fun when he plays. He's an experienced
player and he's getting an opportunity as well."
Their efforts gave a lift to Padres right-hander Ian Kennedy (8-9),
who struggled much of the night yet eased out of a fifth-inning,
bases-loaded jam and on the way to six innings of work and the
victory.
"I walked a lot of guys (six) and I didn't get ahead of a whole lot
of people," Kennedy said. "It was just a constant battle throughout
the night."
Yangervis, acquired in Tuesday's trade with the New York Yankees,
went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for San Diego (44-56).
Francouer, a veteran right fielder called up from Triple-A El Paso
on Wednesday, was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. First baseman Tommy
Medica went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Cubs left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada (0-1) pitched four-plus innings and
took the loss in his second major league start and first at Wrigley
Field.
"I didn't have the control overall as good as (the first start) in
Cincinnati," Wada said through an interpreter. "I was comfortable
but my control was so bad."
The eight runs were the most by the Padres since an 8-2 victory over
the Cincinnati Reds on July 1. The win evened the series at one game
apiece entering Thursday's finale.
Third baseman Luis Valbuena's three-run homer in the fourth inning
was the big blow for the Cubs (41-57).
"It was just bad curveball I threw to Valbuena," Kennedy said. "Just
frustrating because I felt my curveball was pretty good all night."
Kennedy allowed three earned runs and three hits, struck out six and
walked five for his first win after back-to-back no-decisions.
Conditions were dramatically different from Tuesday's high heat and
humidity and brisk breeze blowing out. On Wednesday, temperatures
fell into the low 60s with strong wind blowing in from right field.
The Padres padded the margin with three eighth-inning runs off Cubs
reliever Justin Grimm.
The Padres scored twice off Wada before any outs in the first.
Leadoff batter Chris Denorfia walked on four pitches and came home
on Solarte's triple to the right-field corner. Solarte scored on
left fielder Carlos Quentin's sacrifice fly to right to make it 2-0.
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San Diego added a run in the fourth as third baseman Chris Nelson
doubled to score Francoeur.
Valbuena tied the score in the bottom of the fourth inning with a
two-out homer run to right. Valbuena's sixth home run of the season
scored first baseman Anthony Rizzo and left fielder Chris Coghlan.
In the fifth inning, Medica's double was lost in the center-field
ivy, enabling Solarte to score.
That was it for Wada, who departed after four-plus innings and was
ultimately tagged for five earned runs and five hits while striking
out four and walking four.
"On the hill he looks as composed as anybody, he just didn't seem to
find his rhythm and command today," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said.
"When you watched him on the mound today he was constantly
fidgeting, trying to get loose."
Right-handed reliever Brian Schlitter walked Francoeur to load the
bases for Nelson, who tapped into a fielder's choice that forced
Quentin at the plate.
Schlitter then issued a one-out walk to catcher Rene Rivera, forcing
in Medica for a 5-3 lead.
Five Cubs pitchers collectively issued a season-high 11 walks -- one
intentional -- on the night.
NOTES: Major League Baseball suspended Padres OF Cameron Maybin for
25 games without pay Wednesday after he tested positive for
amphetamine use. Maybin said he accepted the suspension but
explained that use of the substance was the result of a medical
condition. ... The Padres reportedly held another interview with Red
Sox assistant general manager Mike Hazen for their general manager
opening on Tuesday. ... The Padres send RHP Tyson Ross (8-10, 2.70
ERA) against Cubs RHP Edwin Jackson (5-10, 5.61 ERA) in Thursday's
series finale. ... The Cubs optioned INF Mike Olt to Triple-A Iowa.
Olt, with the Cubs since Opening Day, was batting .139 (26-for-187)
with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs in 72 games. ... 1B Anthony Rizzo has
hit 35 home runs since the 2013 All-Star break and leads the
National League this season with 25. ... LF Chris Coghlan has
reached base in 16 of 17 games since June 30, with hits in 15. He's
batting .407 in that span.
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