Aug 10, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Justin Upton (10) hits a two run home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Petco Park. Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
SAN DIEGO — Justin Upton hit a two-run homer while right-handed starter Ian Kennedy and four relievers held Cincinnati to four hits Monday night as the Padres defeated the Reds 2-1 at Petco Park to end a six-game losing streak.
Kennedy (7-10) allowed one run on two hits over five innings, but he also issued a season-high six walks and twice had to pitch out of bases-loaded jams. Cincinnati’s lone run was a homer by right fielder Jay Bruce leading off the second.
Right-handers Dale Thayer, Shawn Kelley, Joaquin Benoit and Craig Kimbrel all followed with scoreless innings with Kimbrel picking up his 32nd save.
Left fielder Upton’s 20th homer of the season in the fourth immediately followed right fielder Matt Kemp’s inning-opening single, which was the first hit allowed by Reds’ rookie left-handed starter David Holmberg (1-1).
The loss was the Reds’ fifth in the last six games.
Although the Reds had Kennedy on the ropes throughout the first four innings, Cincinnati’s only run against the right-hander came on Bruce’s solo homer leading off the second.
The right fielder rocketed Kennedy’s first pitch of the second 406 feet into the right-field seats for his 18th homer of the season and the 200th of his career.
The Reds left the bases loaded in the second and fourth and stranded a total of seven runners in the first four innings as Kennedy walked a season-high six batters.
Kennedy exited after throwing 98 pitches (58 strikes) in five innings. He gave up one run on two hits and the six walks while striking out four.
Cincinnati’s frustration grew in the bottom of the fourth when one swing by Upton.
Kemp opened the fourth with a single to left for the Padres’ first hit. Upton then drove a 2-2 pitch from Holmberg 417 feet, the ball landing in the sand behind the fence in right center. The homer was Upton’s 20th of the season — and his 15th of the season at Petco Park, tying the single-season record at the Padres’ downtown home.
San Diego manager Pat Murphy was ejected by plate umpire Tony Randazzo for arguing balls-and-strikes calls in the fourth after Kennedy walked Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton.
NOTES: Padres RHP Colin Rea will make his major league debut Tuesday night against the Reds. Rea, 25, had a 1.98 ERA between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso this season. … The Padres will have to make a 40-man roster move to add Rea, who replaces RHP Odrisamer Despaigne in the rotation. Despaigne becomes the long man in the bullpen. … Padres RHP Ian Kennedy got through the first without allowing a run. His first-inning ERA this season is 8.10.
