Big 9th leads Padres over Dodgers
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Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Will Myers drove in the winning run in the ninth inning to lead the San Diego Padres to a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.
Derek Norris had a pair of hits, scored twice and drove in two runs while Yonder Alonso was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Padres, who bounced back from Monday's loss in the opener. Joaquin Benoit (1-0) picked up the win for pitching the eighth inning.
Adrian Gonzalez repeated his Opening Day performance with another single, double and home run for the Dodgers. Howie Kendrick drove in the other run.
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Neither starter factored into the decision, as Tyson Ross went six innings for San Diego and allowed two runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts, while Zack Greinke gave up a run on two hits with a walk and four strikeouts in six frames for Los Angeles.
With the score tied in the ninth, the Padres went on top against Chris Hatcher (0-1). Clint Barmes singled and Cory Spangenberg reached base when his sacrifice bunt was misplayed by Yasmani Grandal. Myers then singled home the go-ahead run, and Norris followed with a double down the left-field line. A single from Will Middlebrooks three batters later made it a 7-3 game.
Craig Kimbrel, who the Padres acquired from the Braves on Sunday, made his debut with his new team in the ninth and struck out the side to end the game.
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"He threw well. No doubt about it," Padres manager Bud Black said of Kimbrel. "This guy is an impact player. He looked good."
The Padres worked a two-out run in the first inning as Matt Kemp singled to keep the frame alive and Justin Upton followed with a triple for a 1-0 lead.
In the sixth the Dodgers went on top as Yasiel Puig led off with a double and scored on a double from Gonzalez. Kendrick then singled home Gonzalez for a 2-1 lead.
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The team was unable to get any more across as Yasmani Grandal grounded out, Kendrick was caught trying to steal third and, after Carl Crawford drew a walk, Juan Uribe flied out.
San Diego went back on top in the eighth inning when Alonso singled home Norris with two outs for a 3-2 lead.
Gonzalez, though, hit his second homer in as many games with a towering blast to right in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game.
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Game Notes
The start of the game was delayed by 30 minutes due to rain ... The Dodgers committed three errors in the game ... San Diego was 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine, while Los Angeles left six men on base and was 2-for-5 with RISP.