Padres jump out to early lead, hang on late to snap losing skid
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Austin Hedges homered and Wil Myers hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the four-run third inning for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 on Sunday to snap a six-game losing streak.
Myers' double to left off Tyler Mahle gave the Padres their first lead in a week. They hadn't led since taking a 1-0 advantage in the first inning at Arizona on April 14 in a game they'd lose 8-4. They returned home and lost two to Colorado before dropping the first three games of this series.
The losing streak dropped the Padres from a three-game lead atop the NL West to second place, 2½ games behind Los Angeles.
San Diego scored only 13 runs during those six losses.
Left-hander Joey Lucchesi (3-2) stopped the steak by holding the Reds to one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked two. Kirby Yates pitched the ninth for his 10th save in as many chances.
Mahle (0-2) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings, struck out nine and walked none.
The Reds jumped ahead for the fourth straight game when Jose Iglesias' infield single with one out in the second brought in Matt Kemp, aboard on a leadoff double to left.
Hedges tied it by homering to left leading off the third, his third. Mahle struck out Lucchesi but then allowed five straight hits that led to three more runs.
Rookie Fernando Tatis Jr. extended his hitting streak to 10 games before being thrown out trying to steal second base. The Padres appealed, but the call was upheld after a review of 3 minutes, 12 seconds. Manuel Margot and Manny Machado singled ahead of Myers, who doubled to left as Kemp slammed into the wall trying to make the catch. Kemp came out of the game an inning later. Eric Hosmer followed by doubling in Myers for a 4-1 lead.
The Reds pulled within one run after home runs by Kyle Farmer and Eugenio Suarez in the seventh. Farmer's third came off Brad Wieck and Suarez's fifth was off Craig Stammen.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: 1B Joey Votto was out of the starting lineup for the second straight day with a tight back. He was available to pinch-hit. The Reds are off Monday, giving Votto more time to recover.
Padres: 1B Hosmer was in the lineup a day after needing nine stitches to close a cut over his right eye. He said he felt light-headed after using the sauna in the clubhouse and passed out. ... CF Manuel Margot returned from paternity leave and 2B Luis Urias was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. The Padres also recalled LHP Robbie Erlin from Class A Lake Elsinore and optioned RHP Phil Maton to El Paso.
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Sonny Gray (0-3, 2.79) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game home series against Atlanta on Tuesday night. The Braves are expected to counter with RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.75).
Padres: Rookie LHP Nick Margevicius (1-2, 3.60) is scheduled to start Tuesday night's opener of a two-game home series against natural rival Seattle, which will counter with RHP Erik Swanson (0-1, 3.38).
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