Padres Defeat Cubs in San Diego

It was a rough night for the Chicago Cubs' infield.

Three errors that led to three unearned runs helped derail the Cubs and spoiled a fine performance by Jason Hammel in a 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.

Derek Norris hit a two-run double with one out in the eighth and James Shields struck out 11 in seven innings to lead the Padres, who snapped a three-game losing streak in which they scored only six runs.

"It was just a tough night," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We've been outstanding on defense. To have three really pedestrian plays beat us, it's tough. Jason Hammel could not have pitched better than he did tonight. It's impossible. He was outstanding. He kept getting better. He kept making pitches."

An error factored into the Padres' go-ahead rally.

With runners on the corners in the eighth, Norris doubled to left off Pedro Strop, who had just replaced James Russell (0-1).

Pinch-hitter Clint Barmes reached to open the inning when second baseman Addison Russell dropped his fly ball to shallow center for an error. Pinch-hitter Abraham Almonte beat out a bunt single before catcher Miguel Montero fielded Cory Spangenberg's bunt and threw out Almonte at second as Barmes reached third, bringing up Norris.

"We caught a break with Barmes' soft fly ball that Russell couldn't grab," Padres manager Bud Black said.

Hammel was perfect through four before rookie third baseman Kris Bryant overthrew first baseman Anthony Rizzo for a two-base error after fielding Justin Upton's chopper. Yangervis Solarte followed with an RBI single.

Hammel struck out eight and walked none in seven innings while allowing two runs, none earned, and three hits.

"Without the errors he probably could have pitched a complete game tonight, just based on the number of pitches thrown, because of pitches he had to throw after the mistakes," Maddon said.

Although he got a no-decision, Shields reached double digits in strikeouts for the second time in five games. He held Chicago to two runs on six hits, including homers by Chris Coghlan and Dexter Fowler.

Coghlan also homered off closer Craig Kimbrel with two outs in the ninth, his sixth. It was his fourth career multihomer game.

Joaquin Benoit (4-1) pitched a perfect eighth for the win. Kimbrel worked the ninth for his 11th save in 12 chances.

"It was a great comeback. The pitching is what kept us in tonight," Norris said.

The game marked the return of Bryant, who starred at the University of San Diego before Chicago took him with the second pick in the June 2013 draft. Bryant made his big league debut against the Padres at Wrigley Field on April 17.

The Cubs went up 2-0 in the third on the homers by Coghlan and Fowler. Coghlan drove Shields' first pitch an estimated 420 feet into the sandy play area beyond the fence in right-center. With two outs, Fowler homered an estimated 399 feet into the Jack Daniel's party deck atop the wall in right. It was his fourth.

"Shields pitched great," Black said. "They took advantage of the few mistakes he made."

San Diego tied it on Will Venable's two-out RBI single in the seventh.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: 1B-OF Wil Myers went on the 15-day DL with left wrist tendinitis. San Diego filled the roster spot by recalling RHP Cory Mazzoni from Triple-A El Paso.

UP NEXT

Cubs: LHP Tsuyoshi Wada will make his season debut after making six rehab starts with Triple-A Iowa. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 5 with a left groin strain.

Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (2-3, 3.94 ERA) is coming off a victory against Washington on Thursday, his first win since April 12.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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