Padres Yangervis Solarte Returns – Helps Padres Walk Off Over Dodgers

The Padres won for the second straight night in their last at-bat, this time Yangervis Solarte being the hero with a bases loaded walk in the 11th inning to give the Padres the 3-2 win over the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Padres Melvin Upton Jr. almost ended another one with a home run – just missing on a long fly to left himself in the 11th before the Padres rallied off Dodgers reliever Chin hui-Tsao for the win. The Padres were struck out 19 times by Dodgers pitching but in the end outlasted the Dodgers struggling bullpen.

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Getting Solarte back in the lineup could be a big boost for a slumbering Padres offense that is showing some signs of life. After accomplishing nothing against the Giants earlier in the week, they have been methodically getting on base and finding ways to get those runners in against the Dodgers. In the series so far Derek Norris, Christian Bethancourt, Melvin Upton Jr. all went deep Friday night, while last night the Padres stole 3 bases and took 5 walks en route to the win.

Brett Wallace is still just hitting .218, but collected two more walks last night and now leads the team with 19 walks and just 27 strikeouts. By contrast Melvin Upton Jr.is second in walks at 18 but has almost twice as many total at-bats and has struck out 45 times. Last night was proof that

just getting on base is sometimes all you need. Wallace might end up staying at third base with Manager Andy Green plugging Solarte in at second until Spangenberg eventually returns.

Alex Wood dominated early for LA, striking out a career high 13 in 6 IP and left in the 7th tied 2-2. Padres starter Cesar Vargas again pitched outstanding (7 IP, 2 Runs, 7 K’s) but would not pick up the victory. Ryan Buchter was electric striking out the side in the 8th and Fernando Rodney finished up the 9th without a run. Brad Hand ended up pitching 2 innings for the victory, allowing 0 hits and striking out 3 in his two stint.

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In the 11th, once again Wil Myers led things off with a single just like Friday night. Matt Kemp flied out before Upton hit his moon shot that on a cold San Diego evening ended up just short. He could be seen mouthing “Wow” as he walked back to the dugout. Myers stole 2nd before Norris walked, then Wallace walked to load them up. On four errant pitches Solarte got the walk and the Padres celebrated their second straight win over a division rival.

They finish up the series this afternoon at Petco Park with just a difference of two games between their records. The Dodgers send Kenta Maeda against the Padres Colin Rea.