Kemp has 4 hits as Padres rally past Orioles 10-7
BALTIMORE (AP) Down by three runs and facing one of the best bullpens in the American League, the San Diego Padres revved up their suddenly potent offense.
Matt Kemp doubled to spark a four-run seventh inning, and the Padres overcame two home runs and five RBIs by Pedro Alvarez in a 10-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
Kemp had four hits and drove in two runs for the Padres, who have scored at least five runs in six straight games for the first time since 2011.
''Matt in the zone is as dangerous as anybody in baseball,'' manager Andy Green said. ''He sprayed the ball all over the ballpark.''
San Diego trailed 6-3 before batting around in the seventh. Kemp got things started with a double off Mychal Givens (5-1), who failed to retire any of the five batters he faced.
After Givens issued a bases-loaded walk to Derek Norris, Oliver Drake immediately uncorked a wild pitch to let in the tying run before Christian Bethancourt delivered a run-scoring grounder.
Baltimore's bullpen came into the game with a 3.00 ERA, second-best in the majors, but in this one Orioles relievers yielded seven runs - five earned - over the final three innings.
The performance ruined a strangely effective start by Tyler Wilson, who allowed three runs and nine hits over six innings. Nine of the first 18 batters he faced reached base, but he left with the lead.
It didn't stand up.
''We've got a lot of guys learning the job without much major league experience, with Tyler being one of them,'' manager Buck Showalter said. ''And Mychal and Oliver. I can keep rattling them off, but no one wants to hear about it.''
Kevin Quackenbush (5-3) earned the win with one inning of scoreless relief and Fernando Rodney got four outs for his 15th save, retiring Adam Jones with the bases loaded in the eighth and the score 7-6.
San Diego pulled away with three runs in the ninth, the last of them on a single by Kemp.
Rodney gave up his first earned run of the season in the bottom half, on an RBI grounder by Alvarez that struck first base and was ruled a single.
''You couldn't ask for more from him,'' Green said. ''Just wish there wasn't a blemish on his ERA now.''
After going 40-29 against the AL, first-place Baltimore became the last team in the majors to delve into interleague play.
San Diego's comeback spoiled Alvarez's 11th career multihomer game and first since Aug. 23, 2014. He hit a two-run homer in the fourth for a 4-3 lead and connected with a man on in the fifth to make it 6-3.
Both drives came off Rule 5 rookie Luis Perdomo, who gave up six runs and seven hits in five innings. The right-hander did, however, have a career-high eight strikeouts.
Givens was 7-0 in his career before this dud, which raised his ERA from 2.70 to 3.78.
QUICK HITS
Jones, a San Diego native, went 1 for 5 but has a .424 career average against the Padres. ... When scoring five or more runs this season, the Padres are 20-8. ... Since 2012, Rodney has 164 saves, second only to Craig Kimbrel's 194.
ROSTER MOVE
The Orioles recalled Drake from Triple-A Norfolk and outrighted INF Paul Janish to the same minor league club. Janish has three days to accept the assignment or become a free agent.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: OF Jon Jay was held from the starting lineup after being hit by a pitch in the back on Sunday by Washington's Gio Gonzalez. ... RHPs Andrew Cashner (strained neck) and Tyson Ross (right shoulder inflammation) threw 30 pitches on the side Tuesday.
Orioles: LHP Brian Duensing had his left elbow examined and could be headed toward the DL.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Erik Johnson (0-2, 8.44 ERA) starts the finale of the two-game series Wednesday night. Obtained from the White Sox in the trade for James Shields, he's lost all four of his outings this season.
Orioles: Ubaldo Jimenez starts for Baltimore in the final game of 3B Manny Machado's four-game suspension.