Padres name Murphy as interim manager, lose to A’s

Even though it wasn’t the debut San Diego Padres interim manager Pat Murphy hoped for, he won’t forget it.

Eric Sogard, who played for Murphy in college, drove in the go-ahead in the ninth inning with a single off closer Craig Kimbrel, leading the Oakland A’s to a 6-5 victory Tuesday and spoiling Murphy’s major league debut.

“It was special,” Murphy admitted. “Lot of special moments today but bottom line, there is only one special moment you are looking for. That is a win.”

The Padres have lost three consecutive games for three different managers. Bud Black was fired Monday after the club lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Bench coach Dave Roberts was the acting manager in Monday night’s 9-1 loss to Oakland.

“It’s a collective effort and I will try to do whatever I can to try and make a different,” Murphy said. “I’m confident that we can move the needle.”

Sogard, who played for Murphy at Arizona State, made sure he sent his former coach home with a

Athletics 6 Padres 5

at Athletics 7:05 p.m. today

loss.

“It’s kind of neat for me to hand him his first loss,” Sogard said with a broad smile.

“A kid that I’ve known for a lot of years,” Murphy said about Sogard. “That stings a little bit to be honest with you.”

Kimbrel (1-2) issued a two-out walk to Billy Burns, who stole second and scored on Sogard’s ground ball single to center.

“I thought our guys went out there and played great today and played with great energy and a great comeback in eight innings,” Kimbrel said. “I just didn’t go out and do my job.”

The game was played on the one-year anniversary of the death of longtime Padre and Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. The Padres played a brief video tribute to the eight-time NL batting champion before the game.

Burns not only scored the winning run but also had a two-run triple and robbed Justin Upton of a two-run homer in the first.

San Diego’s Matt Kemp hit a solo homer in the eighth off Evan Scribner (2-1) to tie the game at 5-all. It was Kemp’s third home run of the season.

Tyler Clippard pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances.

Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer off Andrew Cashner to give the A’s a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning.

Padres rookie Austin Hedges hit his first career home run, a solo shot in the third.

Cashner had not allowed a hit until a one-out double in the fifth by Max Muncy. After a two-out walk, Oakland starter Scott Kazmir singled sharply down the third-base line for one run. Burns followed with a tworun triple, tying the score at 3-all.

Kazmir went five innings, allowing three runs and five hits with eight strikeouts.

Cashner gave up five runs and five hits in five innings-plus.