Kennedy, bullpen combine to lift Padres to 8-0 win

The Padres have won seven straight when scoring more than three runs.

The Cardinals (77-45) have the best record in baseball but have lost the first two games of the series by a combined score of 17-3.

Having survived the Cardinals’ best shot in the top of the seventh, the Padres moved comfortably ahead in the home half Saturday night.

“It was one of those innings that kind of blew up on us”, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

The veteran also pitched well in a no decision against the Padres last season, yielding two runs across seven innings on August . 14, 2014.

Kemp’s two-run single extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

Then, Jankowski hit an RBI single in his next at-bat and eventually came around to score on Yangervis Solarte’s two-run home run in the insane five-run fifth. Kelley replaced Kennedy and struck out Martinez, who had hits in his first two at-bats.

Carpenter was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Segal for arguing after being called out on strikes.

Heck, if Donald Trump can be the frontrunner in a Presidential election, ANYTHING can happen.

Jankowski and pinch-hitter Alexi Amarista each had two hits and a RBI in the seventh as the Padres sent 11 men to the plate and turned a 1-0 pitching duel into a rout.

That lead seemed very thin when the Cardinals mounted a major threat in the seventh but when the inning was over, the Padres still led by one. But interim manager Pat Murphy said Gyorko will return to shortstop at some point after showing decent range there Wednesday.

Norris then scored on Jankowski’s groundout to second. The Padres won the last game 9-3 and San Diego leads the series 1-0.

Derek Norris tripled to the right-center-field wall when Tommy Pham couldn’t cut off the ball before it got past him. Carpenter knocked it down and threw late to first but Norris held third. The strikeout pitch deflected off Norris’ hand and bounced away, allowing Bourjos to take first. Kemp, who had but one home run in the season’s opening nine weeks, slugged his 15th of the season on Friday. Brandon Moss had 119 but 106 of them were with Cleveland. This is Wacha’s second career game against the Padres. But Martinez fanned Jedd Gyorko with his 56th pitch of the night.

A throwing error by St. Louis third baseman Mark Reynolds then led to the unearned runs. Carpenter has started three there before Saturday.

In the span of just a few batters, Ian Kennedy and the San Diego Padres were saved by their clutch bullpen. Carlos Martinez will seek his 13th win for the Cardinals. “I think for the most part, it’s still surreal”. This is Rea’s first career game against the Cardinals. Everyone’s going to go through one of these slumps. “But, honestly, if not for the guys in the clubhouse, I would have been more nervous”. “It was probably the worse strike I have ever had called against me”. “With a little fatigue and playing every single day, the swing is getting a little long”. “There was no turning my mind off”.

Wong said he had been a “perfectionist, my entire life”.