Renfroe’s grand slam in 9th lifts Padres over Dodgers 8-5
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning off Kenley Jansen to give the San Diego Padres a thrilling 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday and avoid a three-game sweep.
Renfroe drove an 0-1 pitch into a balcony on the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left-field corner. He dropped his bat and raised his arms before beginning his trot.
The Padres started the winning rally with three straight singles off Jansen (2-1), who was trying for his third save in three games. Eric Hosmer hit a leadoff single to left and Manuel Margot and Wil Myers followed with bunt singles to load the bases. Jansen struck out Greg Garcia and got rookie Francisco Mejia to pop up before Renfroe’s slam.
Adam Warren (2-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.
Chris Taylor hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning for the Dodgers off Robbie Erlin, his third this season and the Dodgers’ fifth in the series. Max Muncy was aboard on a leadoff walk. Taylor also homered in Friday night’s 4-3 victory.
Muncy got the Dodgers on the board with a three-run shot to right with two outs in the fifth off rookie lefty Nick Margevicius. Corey Seager was aboard on a walk and David Freese on a single.
Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda allowed four runs and three hits in six innings, struck out six and walked three.
Franmil Reyes hit a home run estimated at 458 feet, and Mejia drove in a run on his first career triple for the Padres.
Reyes hit a monster homer to the top of the second deck in left field with one out in the second, his ninth. It was the Padres’ fifth homer of the series. It went 21 feet farther than Manny Machado’s two-run homer off Clayton Kershaw in the first inning of LA’s 4-3 win Friday night.
Mejia and Garcia helped give San Diego a 4-0 lead. Garcia walked with two outs in the second and scored on Mejia’s triple to right. Garcia, who grew up in suburban El Cajon, doubled on Mejia’s triple in the second. In the fourth, Garcia doubled to bring in Hosmer, aboard on a leadoff walk, and Mejia followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in Wil Myers, aboard on a one-out walk.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: 1B Cody Bellinger struck out as a pinch-hitter for Maeda in the eighth. He didn’t start for the second straight game after dislocating his right shoulder diving for a ball Friday night. His shoulder popped back in and he finished that game.
TRANSACTION
The Dodgers signed C Travis d’Arnaud and optioned rookie INF Matt Beaty to Triple-A Oklahoma City. D’Arnaud was released by the Mets on Friday. Roberts said d’Arnaud will be the third catcher, a right-handed bat off the bench and can be used at other positions.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (3-0, 5.22) is scheduled to start Monday night’s opener of a home series against Atlanta, which will counter with RHP Kevin Gausman (1-2, 4.83). Buehler’s last start against the Braves was in Game 3 of the NL division series last year. He didn’t factor into the decision in the 6-5 loss.
Padres: Rookie RHP Chris Paddack (2-1, 1.91) is scheduled to start in the opener of a home series against 2018 NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom (2-3, 3.82) and the New York Mets.
