With four wins in a row and seven in the past eight games, the San Diego Padres are having fun.
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Adeiny Hechavarria was trying to hit a single.
“I never ended a game that way with a walkoff home run”, Hechavarria said. “I’m extremely happy. It’s a great feeling”.
His shot to left-center capped an unexpected display of ninth-inning power from light-hitting shortstops.
San Diego is 2-8 in Shields last 10 starts while Miami is 20-3 in Fernandez’ last 23 home outing.
Amarista’s homer was his third, Hechavarria’s his fifth. On the day his fourth daughter was born, Kennedy doubled, scored a run and pitched seven strong innings, allowing four hits, two walks and two runs.
Joaquin Benoit then retired all three batters he faced in the eighth before Kimbrel finished.
According to Elias, Johnny Allen (1932-33) and LaMarr Hoyt (1980-82) are the only other pitchers since 1900 to start a career with 16 winning decisions at home.
Fernandez threw 112 pitches.
We won with Boston last night as it tagged Chris Sale for seven runs on 12 hits in just five innings which snapped a three-game skid and avoided the four-game sweep to the White Sox. But he was put back on the lineup card when rainy conditions in Miami made it impossible for him to get out of town in time.
In the seventh, Dietrich struck out but reached on a wild pitch and eventually scored on a groundout by pinch hitter Justin Bour, cutting San Diego’s lead to 5-3. “I really wanted it. It was probably a little more personal”, Fernandez said.
Fernandez was shaky out of the gate as he loaded the bases in the first inning on a pair of singles and a walk.
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky). Miami Marlins starting pitcher David Phelps watches from the dugout in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Friday, July 31, 2015, in Miami. Fernandez, however, tight-roped his way out of trouble by striking out Shields, getting Will Venable to fly out and setting Yangervis Solarte down on strikes with a sweeping 86-mph curveball. But Hechavarria did him one better.
The ace right-hander didn’t care that he didn’t get credit as long as the team got a much-needed end to a four-game losing streak. 2B Cory Spangenberg (bruised left knee) is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week. 500 mark for the first time since June 27. “He said, ‘Look, I think I’m closer than you think, ‘” Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said. When his wife, Allison, went into labor, he was scratched from the start so he could go home.
“Hallelujah!” exclaimed Marlins manager Dan Jennings after the exciting finish in front 25,228, a number that included 400 canines on “Bark at the Park” day at Marlins Park.
David Phelps allowed three runs in five innings. The San Diego Padres have won four straight road games.
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Marlins: RHP Tom Koehler (8-7, 3.38) starts Monday when Miami hosts RHP Bartolo Colon (9-10, 4.96) and the New York Mets. He is coming off a quality outing against Detroit last time out but he still brings in a 5.35 ERA at home. A start later would be his last before Tommy John surgery.
