Upton hits 2-run HR, Padres top Reds 2-1 to snap 6-game skid
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- With one big swing, the music was back on in the San Diego Padres' clubhouse.
Justin Upton hit a two-run homer and the Padres edged the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 Monday night to snap a six-game losing streak.
"He's one of those guys that can totally flip a game," San Diego pitcher Ian Kennedy said.
Kennedy labored through five innings for the win, backed up by four relievers who did not permit a run.
Jay Bruce hit his 200th home run for Cincinnati, which has lost five of six.
"Their bullpen shut us down," Reds manager Bryan Price said.
Kennedy (7-10) was lifted after throwing 98 pitches, only 58 for strikes. He was charged with two hits and a season-high six walks. The right-hander struck out four while improving to 5-1 against the Reds.
"It was a constant grind," Kennedy said. "It was trying not to give up the big hit in those situations because that is a good lineup. I was missing off a little here and there. It was pretty frustrating at times, so I just tried to battle. Luckily I made some good pitches."
Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 32nd save in 34 chances. It was his first save since Aug. 1 against Miami.
David Holmberg (1-1) worked 6 2-3 innings for the Reds. He allowed two runs, five hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Pinch-hitter Melvin Upton Jr. had a chance to extend San Diego's lead in the seventh, but popped up with the bases loaded.
The Reds, who left 10 runners on, had the potential tying run aboard in the seventh when Brandon Phillips led off with a single. But then Shawn Kelley struck out Eugenio Suarez, Joey Votto and Todd Frazier.
"That was real impressive," said Padres interim manager Pat Murphy, ejected three innings earlier.
San Diego wasted an opportunity in the sixth when Derek Norris opened with a double. Matt Kemp grounded out, and Justin Upton and Jedd Gyorko went down looking.
Justin Upton went deep in the fourth after Kemp singled to give the Padres a 2-1 lead. It was Upton's 20th home run of the season and just the second hit allowed by Holmberg.
"Everybody that has been around Justin knows that he has thoroughbred power," Murphy said. "He has picked us up over and over again."
Said Holmberg: "It was pretty close to where I wanted it. He put a good swing on it and thumped it out to center. Hats off to him."
In the top of the fourth, Murphy earned his first major league ejection. He was tossed by plate umpire Tony Randazzo for arguing balls and strikes as Kennedy loaded the bases with two walks and a single by Brayan Pena.
"That guy has been umping up here a long time and is a good umpire," Murphy said. "I don't have a good view, but from the view I had I thought it was a strike. It probably wasn't, and I said too much."
Kennedy got Suarez to fly out, one of two times in the first four innings that he stranded three runners.
Bruce slammed his 18th homer of the season in the second, sending an 89 mph fastball 406 feet over the right-field fence, and the Reds appeared poised to score more as Kennedy struggled with his control.
He walked Marlon Byrd, Billy Hamilton and Phillips to load the bases with two outs. Suarez flied out to end the threat.
"Missed opportunities, for sure," Price said. "We just weren't able to deliver that blow and create a gap."
What that did was create sweet sounds in the Padres' clubhouse.
"It's just important for us to be on the right side of it and have music playing after the game," Murphy said.
HOME SWEET HOME
Justin Upton has 15 home runs at home, tying Will Venable's single-season record at Petco Park set in 2013.
MR. 200
Bruce became the 319th player in major league history to hit 200 home runs. He ranks ninth on the Reds' career list.
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-7, 4.84 ERA) ranks among the National League rookie leaders in ERA (ninth), starts (tied for third), innings pitched (fourth), strikeouts (fifth) and opponents' batting average (seventh).
Padres: RHP Colin Rea makes his major league debut. The 12th-round draft pick was 2-2 with a 4.39 ERA for Triple-A El Paso.
