Unable to attend daughter's birth, Padres' Ian Kennedy instead delivers on mound
MIAMI -- Ian Kennedy expected to miss Friday's start against the Miami Marlins to be with his wife, Allison, who was in labor with their fourth child.
Bad weather delayed Kennedy's flight to Southern California, and he wound up pitching seven innings as the San Diego Padres beat the Miami Marlins 8-3 in 11 innings Friday night.
"It was just a really crazy day," Kennedy said.
Kennedy received a call about 10:15 a.m. notifying him that Allison was in labor. He booked a flight, which was scheduled to depart at 2 p.m. After sitting on a plane for an hour-and-a-half with no takeoff in sight, Kennedy called pitching coach Darren Balsley and asked whether he could make his scheduled start.
Kennedy watched the birth of daughter Evelyn Nicole at 5:03 p.m. by using FaceTime, then took the mound about two hours later.
"It's just an emotional moment when I think about it now," Kennedy said. "I'm just proud of her and Alli because it was so cool to see."
Kennedy allowed Christian Yelich's two-run homer in the first, then held the Marlins scoreless over the next six innings.
"Given up the homer kind of helped shake it up a little bit," Kennedy said. "I'm out here on a big-league mound, and you've got to step it up. ... What are you going to tell your daughter after you're all done?"
Kennedy came out with a 3-2 lead and received hugs and high-fives from teammates.
"After I was done, all of the emotions just came out, and I started crying on the bench because I get to go home to see her, and I just want to hold her," Kennedy said.
Kennedy stuck around and watched the Padres score five runs in the 11th. He has a flight scheduled for Saturday morning and plans to rejoin the team in Milwaukee early next week.
"I think that victory was for someone else, too," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said. "It's pretty neat. I know he didn't get the win, but he pitched seven great innings."
After the Padres decided not to deal any of their major players at the trade deadline, San Diego won for the sixth time in seven games and the 11th time in its last 15.
"We're built to last now that the trade deadline is over," said second baseman Jedd Gyorko, who drove in three runs.
With the score 3-3, Will Venable singled with a soft liner against A.J. Ramos (0-3) leading off the 11th and advanced to third when catcher J.T. Realmuto's throw went into center field for an error.
"You kind of lose track of that stolen base when you score five, but that set it all up," Gyorko said.
Ramos struck out Yangervis Solarte, then walked three in a row, including Yonder Alonso with the bases loaded. Andre Rienzo walked Derek Norris with a full count, forcing in another run, and Gyorko's two-run single pushed the lead to 7-3. Venable singled for the second time in the inning, driving in another run.
"We did a pretty good job of taking what they gave us," Murphy said. "That's the best part of it, just take what they give you and if they give you a call you take it."
Brandon Maurer (7-3) pitched an inning in relief for the win.
Derek Dietrich hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth against Craig Kimbrel, who blew a save for the second time in 32 chances.
"Dietrich stepped up big, two outs, to hit a blast like that, you felt the momentum was swinging our way," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. "It was a big moment in the game."
ON THE MOVE
Miami traded Dan Haren, Mat Latos, Michael Morse, Steve Cishek and Sam Dyson ahead of the deadline. Catcher Tomas Telis, acquired in the deal with Texas for Dyson, is to join the big-league club.
San Diego obrained left-hander Mark Rzepczynski from the Cleveland Indians just before the deadline. Rzepczynski is expected to join his new team on Saturday.
NEXT UP
Padres: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (4-7) is to pitch Saturday against the Marlins after beating them 3-2 Sunday in San Diego. Despaigne allowed one run and two hits in six innings.
Marlins: RHP Jose Urena (1-4) benefits from the Marlins' recent trades as he was recalled from Triple-A and will start Saturday. Urena will make his first start since June 28 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he allowed one run over five innings.
