Rivera and Alonso Stave Off Sweep In Padres’ Walk Off Win

May 2, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Rene Rivera (44) throws the ball to first for an out against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Following a night when the San Diego Padres’ ninth inning rally fell one run short, the team came back Sunday afternoon from two runs down  to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3. Assisted by catcher Rene Rivera‘s double and Yonder Alonso‘s walk off hit, the Padres avoided the three-game sweep.

The Padres finally managed to take an early 1-0 lead in third inning when Chris Denorfia singled home Jace Peterson. However, the lead did not last long before the Diamondbacks struck back with three runs in the fourth.  Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt launched his fifth home run of the season and Tuffy Gosewisch‘s 2 RBI single to center field scored Cody Ross and Ender Inciarte.

Despite being down by two runs, the Padres clawed right back in the bottom of the fourth after Rene Rivera’s 2 RBI double scored Cameron Maybin and Will Venable to tie the game 3-3.

Both Tyson Ross and Wade Miley pitched solid Sunday. Ross allowed three runs (1 earned) over seven innings, striking out six before handing the ball to Joaquin Benoit and Huston Street, who recorded his first win of the year.

With the game still tied going into the ninth, the umpires reversed Maybin’s out-call at first base. This play enabled Rivera to knock his second double of the game over the head of right fielder Gerardo Parra to put runners on second and third with one out and setting  the stage for Alonso’s heroics.

After Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson brought the infield in, Alonso’s weak chopper to first enabled Maybin to beat the throw home for the walk off win.

Although the Padres committed three errors on the day, they still managed nine hits off Diamondback pitching. The Padres are looking to make it two in row Monday night when the Kansas City Royals come into town for a three game interleague match up. The Padres’ Eric Stults (1-3, 5.34) looks to rebound after his poor outing in San Francisco to face Royals Yordano Ventura (2-1, 1.50) at 7:10 PDT.