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 Kemp, who had four RBIs, gave the Padres an early lead with a
two-run homer in their three-run first. He singled in the third. And
he gave the Padres a 5-4 lead with a two-out double in the seventh.
Two batters later, second baseman Jedd Gyroko, who had a season-high
tying four RBIs, hit a three-run homer off Rafael Betancourt to put
the Padres ahead 8-4.
Kemp came up with one out in the ninth and a runner on first and
Justin Miller on the mound. Padres hitters had finished one hit shy
of a cycle 361 times in their history and a triple shy of the cycle
258 times. And Kemp had finished one hit shy of the cycle on five
previous occasions, most recently on Sept. 26, 2012, while playing
for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Padres and coming up a
triple short.
Kemp drove a pitch from Miller off the wall in right-center. Kemp
saw the ball ricochet, and sensed he could get to third base. Kemp
wasn't aware he had made franchise history. But Glen Hoffman, who is
in his 10th season as the Padres' third-base coach, quickly informed
Kemp he had ended a long Padres drought.
"When I slid into third base, 'Hoffy' said, 'That's the first one,'
" Kemp said.
"I said, "Yeah, that is my first one.' "
"He said, 'No, that's the first one for the Padres.' "
I was like, 'Wow, it's hard to believe.' All the great hitters that
have been here, Tony Gwynn and all those guys haven't been able to
hit for the cycle. I'm just glad to be able to do it."
First baseman Derek Norris also homered for the Padres, who won for
just the fourth time in 12 games.
The Rockies began a nine-game homestand with their fifth straight
loss and eighth in the past 11 games. They fell a season-high 20
games below .500 and are 8-18 since the All-Star break.
Bud Norris (1-0), signed Tuesday by San Diego after Baltimore
released him on Aug. 8, took over for starter Tyson Ross and was the
winning pitcher. The loser was Ken Roberts (0-1), who was recalled
Friday from Triple-A Albuquerque. He gave up the go-ahead run on
Kemp's double, and Betancourt, after intentionally walking Justin
Upton to get to Gyorko, was tagged with the final three runs of the
inning.
In their five straight losses, the Rockies' bullpen has allowed 18
runs, all earned, and 17 hits in 13 innings for a 12.46 ERA.
"I don't think they are tired, work-wise or innings-wise," Rockies
manager Walt Weiss said of his relievers. "It's a pretty normal
workload. So it's not tired arms; it's just execution."
[to top of second column] |
Ross left after giving up a leadoff double to second baseman DJ
LeMahieu in the sixth. LeMahieu scored to tie it at 4 on a one-out
triple by left fielder Brandon Barnes, who broke an 0-for-21 slide.
Barnes' routine fly ball to right center fell between center fielder
Melvin Upton Jr. and Kemp.
Yohan Flande pitched a season-high six innings for the Rockies,
allowing eight hits and four runs, just one after the first. Kemp
hit his homer and single off Flande and then finished off his cycle
against the bullpen. After nearly missing a home run but getting a
record-setting triple, Kemp was greeted by Rockies third baseman
Nolan Arenado.
"Arenado asked me a tough question," Kemp said. "He said, 'Would you
rather it be a home run or a triple?' I like home runs but that was
my first cycle so I said, 'I think the cycle would be better.' We
got the W, so that's all that matters as well."
NOTES: The Miami Marlins are now the only active franchise never to
have a player hit for the cycle. ... RHP Eddie Butler was optioned
to Triple-A Albuquerque after going 3-10 with a 5.90 ERA in two
stints with the Rockies and an ineffective start Thursday at New
York. ... Rockies LHP Boone Logan (left elbow inflammation) was
placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Wednesday. He's
0-2 with a 4.75 ERA in 48 games and allowed three inherited runners
to score in each of his past two outings. ... Rockies LHP Ken
Roberts was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque for his second stint
this season with the Rockies. ... Rockies RHP Gonzalez Germen was
recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque for his second stint this season
with the Rockies. ... Rockies 1B Justin Morneau took batting
practice on the field for the first time since he suffered
concussion symptoms and whiplash diving for a ball May 13. ...
Padres INF Cory Spangenberg was reinstated from the 15-day disabled
list, and LHP Frank Garces was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.
Spangenberg missed 38 games with a left knee contusion. ... Padres
RF Matt Kemp entered Friday with a .302/.364/.581 slash line in 138
career games against the Rockies with 36 doubles, 31 homers and 112
RBIs -- the highest against any opponent.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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