Padres lose to Dodgers 10-6; Norris hurt in collision
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The San Diego Padres got outslugged in a home-run contest and lost their catcher in a collision on the base paths.
Melvin Upton Jr. hit two homers, but the Los Angeles Dodgers had five and the Padres lost 10-6 Friday night to end their two-game winning streak.
Catcher Derek Norris left the game in the fourth with a right quad contusion, the result of a first-inning collision with Chase Utley. Alexei Ramirez grounded into a bases-loaded fielder's choice to Utley at second and Norris ran into him, causing them both to fall down. Norris was out on runner's interference and is listed as day-to-day.
San Diego manager Andy Green disagreed.
"I think when the ball goes past the baserunner and the fielder catches the ball behind the baserunner and then essentially hip-checks my guy, he's no longer in the process of fielding the baseball," Green said. "He's in the process of creating a collision. That rule exists so the fielder doesn't get blindsided, not so the fielder can blindside a baserunner."
Yasmani Grandal homered three times to drive in six runs, and Justin Turner and Howie Kendrick added solo shots for the Dodgers, who snapped a three-game skid.
The teams combined for 28 hits and seven homers.
Both starters struggled mightily before leaving early. San Diego's Andrew Cashner gave up a career-high eight runs, while Los Angeles' Scott Kazmir labored through a 31-pitch, 27-minute first inning in a game that lasted 3 hours, 45 minutes.
"I didn't really command much of anything," Cashner said. "Fastball was out of the zone, not even close, and when I did throw it for a strike it was down the middle."
Upton homered in back-to-back games for the first time this season, and the first time since Sept. 12, 2012. His four hits tied a season high. He has seven homers in his last 12 games.
"I'm just seeing the ball OK and not missing good pitches to hit right now," Upton said. "Sometimes you just feel comfortable. This game is funny. It's in and out, but right now it feels pretty good."
Grandal had the first three-homer game of his career against his former team. He singled in the eighth, giving him a career-high five hits. He took a foul ball off his mask in the sixth. Grandal had hit .182 with two homers in 18 previous games against the Padres, who traded him to the Dodgers for outfielder Matt Kemp, who went 0 for 5.
Pedro Baez (2-2) got the win in relief, allowing one hit in 2 2/3 innings.
Kazmir allowed three runs and six hits in three innings, struck out five and walked three.
Cashner (3-7) lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his second start since coming off the DL, giving up eight hits, including four homers, while striking out two and walking three. The Dodgers feasted on his fastball, teeing off on it for their first eight runs.
Upton led off the fourth with his 16th homer of the season on the first pitch from Louis Coleman, leaving San Diego trailing 8-4. Coleman gave up three runs and four hits in one-plus innings.
The Dodgers extended their lead to 7-3 in the third. Grandal hit a three-run homer and Howie Kendrick followed with a solo shot, making it the second time this week and this season that the team had back-to-back homers.
The Padres cut their deficit to 4-3 in the second on Upton's two-run homer.
Los Angeles took a 4-1 lead in the first, scoring all its runs with two outs. Turner got things going with his solo homer. Yasiel Puig had a RBI double and Grandal followed with his first home run of the game.
PADRES REACH DEAL WITH CUBAN PITCHER
The Padres have agreed to terms with 17-year-old Cuban pitcher Adrian Morejon, pending a physical. The left-hander led Cuba's 15-under league with 113 strikeouts in 68.0 innings in 2014, and had a 1.93 ERA while issuing 40 walks. Last year, he pitched in several Cuban leagues. In 2014, he started six games in the Cuban National Series for Mayabeque, with a 4.88 ERA.
"I've watched a lot of video on him and I'm very impressed," manager Andy Green said. "His curveball, he can really spin it, real professional approach on the mound. I think more than anything this says our ownership is committed to building a winner."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (shoulder inflammation) reported discomfort in his twisted left ankle after playing catch from 120 feet at flat ground. There are no scheduled plans for him to throw off a mound. ... 2B Cory Spangenberg (pulled hamstring) was shut down midway through base-running drills during a rehab session and will be re-evaluated by team doctors.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (herniated disk) is due to come off the DL after the All-Star break, but he will need additional time. ... OF Joc Pederson is in Arizona, hasn't swung a bat yet and the team isn't sure how soon he'll return after the break.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Luis Perdomo (3-3, 7.93 ERA) tossed a career high-tying six innings in his previous start Monday at Arizona, giving up three runs (two earned) and nine hits. He struck out five and walked none.
Dodgers: RHP Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 0.00) makes his second start of the season after coming off the DL last weekend.