Burnett Suffers MLB-High 17th Loss, Phils Drop Third Straight
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Alexi Amarista had three hits, including a go-ahead two-run homer, to lead the San Diego Padres to a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.
Amarista's two-out homer in the sixth inning off A.J. Burnett (8-17) put the Padres ahead 4-3. Amarista, who doubled in the second and singled in the fourth, fell a triple short of the cycle when he grounded out in the eighth.
San Diego won its second straight game after dropping nine of 11.
Ian Kennedy (11-13) pitched six innings for the win. The right-hander allowed three runs and three hits with seven strikeouts and four walks. Kennedy had lost his previous two starts, giving up double-digit hits in both outings.
Freddy Galvis hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead. Dominic Brown had a solo homer in the second.
Philadelphia, held to one hit by Andrew Cashner in a 1-0 loss on Monday night, managed just five hits against Kennedy and three relievers.
Kevin Quackenbush allowed an RBI single to pinch-hitter Darin Ruf in the ninth before closing out for his fourth save in five chances.
The Phillies have lost seven of 11.
Burnett took over the major-league lead for losses, extending his career high. Burnett, who has gone 2-8 in his last 10 starts, gave up five runs — four earned — and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings.
Burnett struck out four to pass Phillies Hall of Famer Robin Roberts for 43rd place on baseball's career strikeout list with 2,361.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: SS Jimmy Rollins took infield practice but is still not expected back before the weekend. Rollins has been out since Sept. 8 because of a strained left hamstring.
Padres: OF Seth Smith missed the start due to a sore right hamstring, although he walked as a pinch-hitter. Smith tweaked his hamstring while making the final out on Monday. The left-handed hitting Smith isn't scheduled to start on Wednesday night with Phillies lefty Cole Hamels on the mound.
UP NEXT
Phillies: Hamels (8-7, 2.51 ERA), a San Diego native, has had great success facing his hometown team with an 8-2 record and an ERA of 2.21 in 15 career starts.
Padres: LHP Eric Stults (7-16, 4.49) will try to avoid tying Burnett for the major-league lead with 17 losses.
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