Padres Battle From Behind For Walk Off Win In 12th Inning

May 5, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Alexi Amarista (5) and shortstop Everth Cabrera (2) celebrate after a win against the Kansas City Royals at Petco Park. The Padres won 6-5 in twelve innings. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Following a day when the San Diego Padres defeated the Diamondbacks on a walk-off win, they battled from behind again to defeat the Kansas City Royals on another walk-off hit in the 12th inning Monday night.  The Padres offense finally showed up this season hitting two homers before Will Venable‘s two RBI single in extra innings sealed the 6-5 victory.

It is the Padres’ ninth come-from-behind victory and their third extra innings win of 2014. On Monday night, the Padres used the long ball , including Jedd Gyorko‘s game-tying blast to left field in the ninth inning off Royals closer Greg Holland to send the game in extras.

However, the Royals would take the lead in the top half of the twelfth inning when Mike Moustakas singled home catcher Salvador Perez to take a 5-4 lead. But the Padres fought back again in the bottom half of the inning to seal the victory.

Chris Denorfia started the 12th inning off with a single and was sacrificed to second.  Yonder Alonso’s double off the glove of leftfielder Alex Gordon put runners and 2nd and 3rd with one out.

Despite Venable’s struggle at the plate this season, he’s had four walk-off hits over the course of his career setting the stage for his fifth Monday night. Venable’s liner into the right field gap scored both Denorfia and Alonso to close out the exciting extra innings walk-off win.

The Padres’ offense came alive tonight, scoring more than five runs in a game for the first time in over two and half weeks. In addition to Gyorko’s homerun, Yasmani Grandal continues his hot hitting, blasting a three-run homer off Royals starter Yordano Ventura.  Coming into Monday’s game, the Padres’ 17 home runs combined this season reflects the struggles of the offense, but it was a step in the right direction to boost the offensive production.

Last night was not a great night for starter Eric Stults who struggled again to make it to the fifth inning. Stults allowed three earned runs on eleven hits and is slowly becoming a liability in the Padres starting rotation.

Although the bullpen allowed their only run of the night on a go ahead homer by Royals Eric Hosmer in the sixth inning, they were still solid allowing five hits over 7 innings.

The Padres are looking for three straight wins Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals in the second game of the three game interleague matchup. Padres’ lefty Robbie Erlin (1-4, 5.83) takes on Royal Jeremy Guthrie (2-2, 4.50) at 7:10 PDT.