Padres 3, Marlins 1
SAN DIEGO -- Right-hander Ian Kennedy allowed one run and seven hits in six-plus innings and San Diego's bullpen and defense turned away several challenges in the final three innings Saturday night in a 3-1 win over the Miami Marlins at Petco Park.
Kennedy (6-9) allowed one run, seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six-plus innings to pick up his second straight win. The run came on a homer by Miami third baseman Derek Dietrich leading off the seventh.
Padres right-hander Brandon Maurer inherited a runner at third with no outs in the seventh but kept the tying run from scoring. Right-handers Joaquin Benoit and Craig Kimbrel followed with scoreless innings, and Kimbrel picked up his 28th save.
Right-handed starter David Phelps (4-7) took the loss for the Marlins, allowing two runs, six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings.
Miami missed a golden opportunity to tie the score in the seventh.
Third baseman Derek Dietrich opened the inning with a solo homer on a full count against Kennedy to halve the Padres' lead. Catcher J.T. Realmuto followed with a triple just beyond Justin Upton's glove in left center -- putting the tying run on third with no outs.
Right-hander Brandon Maurer came on and got three outs without Realmuto moving, thanks in part to Padres center fielder Will Venable.
With the infield in, Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria grounded out to third. Pinch-hitter Casey McGehee then hit a liner to short center that Venable caught on the run and froze Realmuto at third with a strike to the plate. Right fielder Cole Gillespie followed with a groundout to third.
The Padres got the run back in the bottom of the seventh. Shortstop Clint Barmes opened the inning with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch by reliever Sam Dyson and reached third on a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Abraham Almonte.
With the Marlins infield in, pinch-hitter Melvin Upton Jr. hit a blooper over second baseman Martin Prado's head that barely reached the outfield grass for a RBI single.
The Padres scored single runs in each of the first two innings to build a 2-0 lead.
With one out in the first, San Diego loaded the bases on consecutive singles by third baseman Yangervis Solarte, right fielder Matt Kemp and Justin Upton.
First baseman Yonder Alonso, who homered Friday for his first RBI since June 27, scored Solarte with a sacrifice fly to the base of the fence in center. Phelps struck out catcher Derek Norris to end the threat.
With two out in the second, Kennedy doubled into the gap in right center and scored when Venable bounced a single through the middle.
The Marlins threatened in the first when Prado doubled with one out and reached third on first baseman Justin Bour's single. But Kennedy struck out left fielder Michael Morse to end that threat.
Kennedy had six strikeouts through the first four innings and notched his seventh to end the sixth, stranding Christian Yelich at second after the center fielder doubled with one out.
NOTES: Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez, who has been on the disabled list since May 23 with right shoulder inflammation, felt pain in the shoulder on a rehab assignment with Double-A Jacksonville earlier this week and is going to see Dr. James Andrews to discuss possible surgery. ... 2B Dee Gordon (thumb) took batting practice at the Marlins' year-round training base in Jupiter, Fla., and could start a rehab assignment Tuesday. He has been on the disabled list since July 17. ... Padres RHP Josh Johnson played toss from 60 feet for a second straight day in a relaunch of a throwing program. ... Padres RHP Brandon Morrow threw 40 pitches in a 2 1/3-inning rehab assignment for Triple-A El Paso on Saturday night at Salt Lake. He allowed two runs and three hits in 2 1/3 innings.