Renfroe hits grand slam in win for Padres
SAN DIEGO — Rookie Hunter Renfroe from Mississippi State hit a grand slam off Kyle Hendricks that helped quiet all the Chicago Cubs fans at Petco Park and overshadow a shaky day by San Diego Padres pitchers.
Renfroe’s slam pushed the Padres over the Cubs 5-2 on Monday, handing Chicago its fourth straight loss.
As big as that hit was, both teams marveled at how the Cubs had only three hits yet drew 10 walks and had two batters hit by pitches.
“It was enough from an offensive standpoint to overcome what should have been probably a disaster pitching-wise,” San Diego manager Andy Green said. “You get to 12 free passes, 10 walks, two hit batters, you don’t win baseball games like that. It’s an aberration. It’s not going to be a successful formula to winning more baseball games.”
The defending World Series champion Cubs have lost six straight road games. They were coming off a three-game sweep at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Said Cubs skipper Joe Maddon: “We had about 11 or 12 left on base and only three hits. That’s the real tale of the tape, more so than Kyle’s performance. We just have to be more efficient. We need to hit like we’re capable of.”
Hendricks (4-3) retired his first 10 batters before allowing seven of his final 11 to reach.
With one out in the fourth, Hendricks gave up singles to Yangervis Solarte and Wil Myers, and hit Ryan Schimpf with a pitch before Renfroe drove a 1-1 pitch into the seats in left. It was Renfroe’s 10th this season and his second career grand slam.
“There were a lot of Cubs fans there and they were rooting on their team and it was loud,” Renfroe said. “Obviously it quieted down real quick and Padres fans started picking up a little bit. You always want to quiet the crowd as much as possible and when you’re doing that, obviously you’re doing well.”
Renfroe hit an inside pitch that probably was a ball. “It was the same pitch they threw me the first at-bat. I was late on the first one. I waited too long. I figured he’d come back there eventually and I got that pitch.”
Renfroe’s other slam was in his sixth major league game, against the Dodgers on Sept. 27, when he hit two homers and drove in seven runs. He hit four homers and drove in 14 runs in 11 games after he was called up.
Hendricks loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth and Myers drove in a run on a fielder’s choice.
Hendricks was charged with five runs and six hits in five innings, struck out five and walked none. ST. LOUIS — With every ball that sails over the fence, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gets a little more encouraged that his lineup is finding its groove.
Not that the rookie leading the charge seems to be feeling any pressure.
Cody Bellinger, Chase Utley and Logan Forsythe hit solo home runs, leading Rich Hill and the Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals for their fifth straight victory.
Pirates 4, Diamondbacks 3
PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen hit a leadoff homer in the ninth inning, lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a wild ending Monday.
McCutchen sent a 1-1 pitch from Archie Bradley (1-1) over the right field wall to cap off a back-and-forth ninth. It was the eighth homer this season for McCutchen, who was recently dropped to sixth in the batting order for the first time in his career.
Nationals 3, Giants 0
SAN FRANCISCO — An enraged Bryce Harper charged the mound, fired his helmet and traded punches to the head with San Francisco reliever Hunter Strickland after getting hit by a fastball, setting off a wild brawl Monday during the Washington Nationals’ win over the Giants.
Drilled in the right hip by a 98 mph heater on Strickland’s first pitch in the eighth inning with two outs, none on and Washington ahead 2-0, Harper didn’t hesitate. The slugger pointed his bat at Strickland, yelled at him and took off.
No one got in Harper’s way as he rushed the mound. His eyes were wide as he flung his helmet — it sailed way wide of Strickland, it might’ve slipped — and they started swinging away. The 6-foot-4 Strickland hit Harper in the face, then they broke apart for a moment before squaring off again. Harper punched Strickland in the head as the benches and bullpen emptied.
Giants teammates Michael Morse and Jeff Samardzija collided hard as they tried to get between the two fighters. Three Giants players forcefully dragged Strickland from the middle of the pack all the way into the dugout, while a teammate held back Harper.
Harper and Strickland were both ejected.
Mets 4, Brewers 2
NEW YORK — Following a pair of relief appearances, Robert Gsellman has given the Mets two steady starts in a row.
Maybe they want to think twice about sending him back to the bullpen.
Hours after the team ticketed him for relief duty soon, Gsellman pitched seven innings of three-hit ball and had two RBIs to lead New York past the Milwaukee Brewers.