Bailey returns with a flourish to fuel Reds past Padres
SAN DIEGO -- Right-hander Homer Bailey won while making his first start in 15 months on Sunday afternoon to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in the rubber match of a three-game series at Petco Park.
Jose Peraza belted his first major-league homer to pave the way for Cincinnati.
Bailey had made only two starts since April 2014 while undergoing two rounds of elbow surgery, including "Tommy John" surgery on May 8, 2015. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Bailey left the game after issuing three straight walks in the sixth with the Reds' bullpen working out of two jams -- including a bases-loaded one-out situation in the eighth when reliever Michael Lorenzen struck out rookie outfielder Jabari Blash and retired Christian Bethancourt on a liner to left.
The win was Bailey's first since he defeated Cleveland on Aug. 7, 2014. Tony Cingrani picked up his 13th save. Starter Paul Clemens (1-2) suffered the loss for the Padres.
Bailey was shut down again last April after two rehab starts. He launched his second rehab in June and made six rehab starts with Triple-A Louisville before being activated from the 60-day disabled list Friday when the Reds arrived in San Diego.
The Padres got to Bailey for a run in the first thanks to the legs of center fielder Travis Jankowski.
Jankowski opened the game with a single to left. Jankowski was running when Alexi Amarista grounded a ball to short. Although Reds' shortstop Zack Cozart fielded the grounder within two strides of second, Jankowski beat him to the bag, the shortstop throwing to first to get Amarista.
Jankowski then stole third and scored on Wil Myers' ground out to Cozart.
The Reds took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second.
Peraza followed a lead-off single by Eugenio Suarez with a homer off Padres starter Paul Clemens. But it was no ordinary homer as Peraza's 424-foot drive landed on the second balcony of the Western Metal Supply Co. building in left.
Clemens, who was moved into the Padres' rotation Friday after starting pitchers Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea were traded to the Miami Marlins, departed the game with one out in the top of the fifth with tightness in his lower back. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
The Reds widened their lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth.
Joey Votto opened the inning with a single to extend his hitting streak to 15 straight games. Adam Duvall followed with a second straight single off left-handed reliever Buddy Baumann, who was replaced by Jose Dominguez.
Brandon Phillips followed with a third straight single to load the bases. Padres third baseman Adam Rosales turned a Suarez grounder into a force at home, with the Reds needed a successful appeal of the ensuing play at first to avoid a double play. After Peraza popped out, Tucker Barnhart hit a come-backer that caromed off Dominguez's foot toward third for an infield single that scored Duvall.
When Jankowski grounded out to open the bottom of the sixth, Bailey had retired 14 straight Padres, including six via strikeouts.
But Amarista followed with a single to center and Myers followed by drawing the first of three straight walks issued by Bailey.
With Ryan Schimpf at the plate, Amarista and Myers moved to third and second, respectively, on a double steal.
Bailey's wildness temporarily worked in the pitcher's favor. Amarista tried to score from third on a pitch that bounced away from Reds catcher Barnhart, who recovered in time to throw back to Bailey for the tag out of Amarista at the plate.
Just as quickly, however, Bailey gave away a run. After throwing ball four to Schimpf, Bailey took the return toss from Barnhart and turned away from the plate without time being called. Myers raced home without a throw for the Padres second steal of home this season - which cut the Reds lead to 3-2.
After Bailey issued a third straight walk to Jabari Blash, right-handed Blake Wood replaced Bailey and struck out Christian Bethancourt to end the threat.
NOTES: Padres manager Andy Green said LF Alex Dickerson is not a candidate for the disabled list, although he will miss at least a couple more games due to the bruised right hip he suffered Friday night in an outfield collision with CF Travis Jankowski. ... OF Jay Bruce didn't start for the Reds on Sunday amid speculation he was about to be traded. ... Padres RHP Erik Johnson, who has been on the disabled list since July 1 with an elbow strain, likely won't pitch again this season. ... Green said SS Jose Rondon, who was promoted from Double-A San Antonio when 3B Yangervis Solarte left the team last Wednesday on family leave, will play the majority games at short "as long as he's up here with us." SS Alexei Ramirez, 34, has started 98 of the Padres' 105 games at short. Rondon started two straight.