San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Adrian Gonzalez doubled home the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning and Nick Hundley's sacrifice fly plated the winning run, as the San Diego Padres rallied to beat Seattle, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game interleague series at PETCO Park.
David Aardsma’s Blown Save Worsens Mariner Tailspin As Padres Walk Off
Pinch-hitter Will Venable singled to right field off Seattle closer David Aardsma (0-4) to begin the ninth. After David Eckstein dropped down a sacrifice bunt, Aardsma hit Chase Headley with a pitch before Gonzalez drove a pitch over the head of right-fielder Ichiro Suzuki.
Aardsma then intentionally walked Scott Hairston and Headley scored on Hundley's fly ball, beating Suzuki's throw to the plate.
The Mariners have now lost 15 games this season in the opponents' final at- bat, including nine walk-off losses.
San Diego starter Kevin Correia allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings. The late rally made a winner out of Joe Thatcher (1-0) after he retired the Mariners in order in the top of the ninth.
Milton Bradley went 3-for-4 with a home run for Seattle, which has dropped seven of eight. Jason Vargas was in line for the win after giving up two runs on seven hits in six full frames.
The Padres grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third. Jerry Hairston Jr. led off with a single and scored on a triple to the right-center field gap by Gwynn, who came home on Eckstein’s one-out single. San Diego had an opportunity to widen the gap, loading the bases later in the inning, but Vargas got Hundley to pop out to keep the damage at two runs.
Seattle pulled even in the fifth inning. Eliezer Alfonzo doubled to begin the frame, advanced to third on a Vargas sacrifice bunt and scored on a groundout by Suzuki. Correia then drilled Chone Figgins with an 0-2 pitch. The hit batsmen proved to be very costly because the next batter, Franklin Gutierrez, tripled off the center-field wall, tying the game at two.
Bradley homered to right field leading off the sixth to give the Mariners a 3-2 lead.
The Padres threatened in the seventh, but Seattle reliever Shawn Kelley fanned Scott Hairston and Hundley to strand runners at first and second.
The Mariners had a runner on third with one gone in the eighth and failed to convert.
The Padres began a nine-game homestand...San Diego has taken three of four from Seattle this season, but the Mariners still lead the all-time series, 38-34...Josh Wilson joined teammate Bradley with three hits...Seattle was 0- for-9 with runners in scoring position...Aardsma has four blown saves, matching his total from last season...Before the gane, San Diego placed outfielder Matt Stairs on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right knee and recalled outfielder Aaron Cunningham from Triple-A Portland.
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