Padres 3, Reds 1
Tyson Ross pitched seven strong innings and Will Venable homered for the second straight game as visiting San Diego defeated Cincinnati.
Venable’s team-leading 15th homer in the eighth gave the Padres a two-run lead en route to snapping a three-game skid. Cincinnati had a three-game winning streak halted, but maintained its 4 1/2-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second National League wild-card spot.
Ross (3-5) gave up one run and four hits while winning for the third time in four starts. Luke Gregerson pitched the eighth and Huston Street worked a perfect ninth for his 22nd save in 23 opportunities.
Cincinnati committed two first-inning errors to help San Diego tally two unearned runs off Tony Cingrani (5-2). Xavier Paul misplayed Venable’s single, which allowed Chris Denorfia to score from first, and Venable crossed home plate when Reds third baseman Jack Hannahan made a throwing error on Chase Headley’s grounder.
Brandon Phillips delivered a two-out single in the first inning for Cincinnati, which had four errors overall.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cingrani gave up two hits and the two unearned runs in five innings. … Ross has allowed four runs and 12 hits in 27 innings over his last four outings. … Cincinnati plans to activate OF Ryan Ludwick (shoulder) for Monday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.