Rangers 8, Padres 6
SAN DIEGO -- Shortstop Elvis Andrus' seventh-inning single broke a tie and lifted the Texas Rangers past the San Diego Padres 8-6 Tuesday night.
The Rangers scored three runs on Andrus' hit, which followed singles by first baseman Prince Fielder and third baseman Adrian Beltre and an intentional walk to second baseman Rougned Odor by reliever Shawn Kelley.
Right fielder Matt Kemp's throw to the plate on Andrus' single was in time to erase Beltre, but Beltre kicked the ball from catcher Derek Norris' glove for an error. That let Beltre and Odor score, with Andrus advancing to third. Norris left the game with an apparent left wrist injury.
Andrus then stole home off Kevin Quackenbush for Texas' fourth run of the inning.
The Padres scored twice in the ninth inning and had the tying run aboard before second baseman Cory Spangenberg flied out to end the game.
The contest was a battle of the bullpens as neither starter got an out in the sixth inning.
Texas reliever Ross Ohlendorf (2-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for the win.
Marc Rzepczynski (0-1) took the loss after facing three batters in the seventh.
Padres starter Andrew Cashner worked five-plus innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. He struck out four.
Texas' Yovani Gallardo, who was seeking fifth consecutive victory, pitched five innings and allowed four runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
San Diego surged ahead 4-3 in the fifth when Kemp crushed his 17th homer of the season, a two-run shot that landed in the Rangers' bullpen. Kemp collected his fourth RBI of the game as his 434-foot blast to left-center scored first baseman Brett Wallace, who had singled.
The Rangers tied the game at 4-4 in the sixth while chasing Cashner. He allowed a single to Beltre and a double by Odor. Nick Vincent replaced Cashner and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Andrus, scoring Beltre.
Marcus Mateo, who was activated from the disabled list before the game, stopped the rally by retiring pinch hitters Mitch Moreland and Bobby Wilson.
Texas took a 3-0 advantage in the third when center fielder Delino DeShields singled and scored on right fielder Shin-Soo Choo's double. Choo finished 3-for-5.
The Padres pulled within 3-2 in the third inning with two outs.
Third baseman Yangervis Solarte singled and went to second on Wallace's pinch single. Both runners advanced when Gallardo uncorked a wild pitch. Kemp followed with a two-run double. It marked Kemp's 21st consecutive game reaching base, tying Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto for the longest active streak in the major leagues.
Gallardo escaped further damage as he got second baseman Jedd Gyorko to ground out after he walked left fielder Justin Upton.
The Rangers jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Fielder homered after Choo's one-out single. Fielder's 18th homer of the year hit the top of the center field fence before ricocheting over.
Kemp and Wallace had three hits apiece for San Diego.
NOTES: The Padres reinstated RHP Marcos Mateo (neck) from the disabled list. ... San Diego RHP Nick Vincent was recalled from Triple-A El Paso. ... Padres INF/OF Wil Myers (wrist) began a rehabilitation assignment with Class A Lake Elsinore. ... The Rangers activated OF Josh Hamilton (knee) and C Carlos Corporan (thumb) from the DL. Hamilton will be restricted to pinch-hitting duty. ... Texas RHP Luke Jackson and INF Joey Gallo were recalled from Triple-A Round Rock, and the Rangers purchased the contracts of RHP Ross Ohlendorf and OF Drew Stubbs from Round Rock. Stubbs is making his Rangers debut. Ohlendorf and OF Will Venable were teammates at Princeton University. ... LHP Alex Claudio (groin) was recalled from Round Rock and placed on the 60-day DL. ... Texas RHP Roman Mendez was designated for assignment.