Padres' ninth-inning rally stuns Giants
SAN FRANCISCO -- Rookie Ryan Schimpf belted a two-out, two-strike, three-run home run in the ninth inning Tuesday night, capping a five-run rally that lifted the San Diego Padres to a stunning, 6-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
A second consecutive loss prevented the Giants (77-67) from gaining ground on the Los Angeles Dodgers (81-63) in the National League West race. San Francisco remains four games behind with 18 to play.
Home runs by Angel Pagan and Gorkys Hernandez helped the Giants take a 4-1 lead into the ninth.
However, the fifth Giants pitcher, Hunter Strickland, gave up three singles and a bases-loaded walk to Wil Myers with one out, allowing the Padres to creep within 4-2.
Strickland got Yangervis Solarte to ground out, scoring Jon Jay, before rookie left-hander Steven Okert was summoned from the bullpen to face the lefty-hitting Schimpf.
Seeking his first career save, Okert got his rival in a 1-2 hole before Schimpf unloaded on the potentially game-ending pitch, launching it into the bleachers in right-center field for a three-run homer and a 6-4 lead.
Kevin Quackenbush pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to record his second save.
Jake Smith (1-0), who pitched a scoreless eighth inning, recorded his first major league win in just his second appearance.
Strickland (3-3), charged with four of the five runs in the ninth, took the loss.
Jay collected three hits, and Schimpf, Luis Sardinas and Derek Norris had two apiece for the Padres, who have won five straight against the Giants, including a 4-0 decision Monday in the series opener.
The Padres had 12 hits, the first 11 of which were singles.
Hernandez had three hits, including his homer, as the Giants lost to the Padres for just the second time in the past 13 meetings at AT&T Park.
The Giants also had 12 hits, but stranded 12 baserunners, including six in scoring position.
Giants starter Albert Suarez, seeking his first win since June 23, allowed just one run on six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Pagan, Buster Posey and Ehire Adrianza had two hits apiece, and Kelby Tomlinson scored twice for the Giants.
San Diego starter Clayton Richard allowed 11 of the Giants' 12 hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and managed to hold the Giants to three runs.
The Giants had six hits, but just one run, against Richard until Pagan's homer triggered a two-run fifth inning that produced a 3-1 lead.
Pagan's homer came on the first pitch of the inning and was his 11th of the season.
Tomlinson followed with a single and scored three batters later on Brandon Crawford's RBI single.
Tomlinson also scored the Giants' first run after getting aboard via a fielder's choice in the third inning. Hunter Pence doubled him home.
The Padres opened the scoring in the top of the inning when Luis Sardinas singled in Derek Norris.
NOTES: The five Venezuelans in the Padres' starting lineup Monday (SS Luis Sardinas, 3B Yangervis Solarte, C Hector Sanchez, RF Oswaldo Arcia and 2B Alexi Amarista) tied a major league record. It had happened just 35 times previously in major league history. ... Giants 3B Eduardo Nunez (sore back) was held out of the starting lineup for the second night in a row. ... Giants RHP Derek Law (strained right elbow) threw a bullpen session before the game, after which manager Bruce Bochy said he would be reinstated from the disabled list for Wednesday's series finale. ... The Padres' Triple-A affiliate, El Paso, began the best-of-five Pacific Coast League championship series Tuesday night against the Dodgers' Oklahoma City club. ... The Padres reached an agreement with their Double-A affiliate, San Antonio, to remain with the organization through the 2018 season.