Hedges, Erlin lead Padres past Cubs, 6-1, to stop 7-game slide
CHICAGO — The San Diego Padres may be at the bottom of the National League, but Austin Hedges is at the top of his game.
Hedges hit a go-ahead, three-run homer, Robbie Erlin pitched two-hit ball over five innings in a spot start and the Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Thursday night to end a season-high, seven-game losing streak.
Hedges went deep off Jesse Chavez (3-2) in the sixth inning for a 3-1 lead, his third homer in six games and seventh overall. Hedges and Manuel Margot each had three of the Padres’ 15 hits, and Margot, Eric Hosmer and A.J. Ellis drove in runs.
In 20-games since July 3, Hedges is batting .333 with five homers and 11 RBIs.
The 25-year-old catcher was out from May 1 until June 24 with right elbow tendinitis. Now he says he feels his best since debuting in the majors with San Diego in 2015.
“In the big leagues for sure,” Hedges said. “It’s nice to make adjustments and going off the DL and playing with the guys, so I’m just going to keep on trying going.”
Erlin (2-3) allowed one run, struck out four and walked one in his third start this season and first since May 21. He didn’t allow a runner until Jason Heyward’s infield single with two outs in the fourth.
“I thought (Erlin) was outstanding,” manager Andy Green said. “I thought he threw the ball well and gave us great tempo for the game, attacked very well and our bats woke up in the second half of that baseball game.”
In his two previous starts, Erlin allowed 11 earned runs in seven innings. He made his big league debut at Wrigley Field on April 30, 2013, and this was his 28th major league start.
What was different this time for the left-hander?
“I just tried to keep my focus on one pitch at a time, one hitter at a time,” Erlin said.
“I feel like I got away from that previously and I kind of got caught up in who’s coming up next and the next inning, which isn’t really effective.”
Four relievers followed in a three-hitter for the Padres, who have the NL’s worst record at 4368. Right fielder Hunter Renfroe made a sliding grab on Willson Contreras’ liner for the final out.
Mike Montgomery yielded one run and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings for the Cubs, who remained one game ahead of second-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.
The left-hander rebounded after yielding five runs and 12 hits in five innings at St. Louis last Friday.