Padres Press Clips Thursday, September 17, 2015

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Kemp’s HR sends Cashner, Padres to victory MLB.com Bloom/Gilbert 2

Kimbrel gets taste of his own medicine in 1st AB MLB.com Bloom 4

3rd elbow surgery coming for JJ MLB.com Bloom 6

Kennedy starts as Padres open weekend set in Colorado MLB.com Bloom 8

Loss of Maurer, Kelley has crippled Friars’ ‘pen Padres.com Center 9

Kemp’s HR lifts Cashner, Padres UT San Diego Lin 11

Johnson to have third surgery UT San Diego Lin 14

Friar talk: J.J. knew he had torn ligament? UT San Diego Sanders 16

Kemp’s 3- homer lifts Padres to 4-3 win over Diamondbacks Associated Press AP 18

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Kemp's HR sends Cashner, Padres to victory By Barry M. Bloom and Steve Gilbert / MLB.com | 2:55 AM ET

PHOENIX -- 's three-run homer in the fifth proved to be the difference as the Padres rallied to beat the D-backs, 4-3, on Wednesday night at Chase Field and capture the three-game series. The D-backs took a 2-1 lead in the fourth thanks to a two-run single by Chris Owings, but Kemp's homer off Robbie Ray (4-12) was the decisive blow. It made a winner of Andrew Cashner (6-15), who allowed three runs over seven .

"He's been great for us," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said of Kemp. "I can only imagine if we had guys getting on base in front of him how many RBIs he'd have." The D-backs managed to pull to within one on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's sixth-inning homer, but they could get no against Cashner and a pair of San Diego relievers. entered in the eighth and picked up a four-out , his 37th save of the season.

"Ultimately one pitch, really," Saltalamacchia said of the Kemp homer. "He's a good hitter so guys like that you can't make a mistake to."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Kemp stays hot: Kemp's two-out, three-run homer in the fifth was his 22nd of the season and gives him 97 RBIs. That's the most for a Padres outfielder since Greg Vaughn had 119 in 1998, the last time the Padres won the pennant.

"Is that right?" said Kemp, who also recently for the first cycle in Padres history. "I'm just trying to drive in runs because that's what they pay me to do. We just got to keep going. The season's not over yet. We've got to keep going and just win some more games." Not quite Ray's day: Ray retired the first two batters of the fifth inning before walking Wil Myers and allowing a single to Yangervis Solarte. That brought Kemp to the plate and after the count went to 1-1, Ray uncorked a 93 mph . It would be his 102nd and last pitch of the night as Kemp turned it into a three-run homer.

"We were trying to go down and away," Saltalamacchia said of the pitch to Kemp. "He had chased some pitches out of the zone. I knew that was the guy that you didn't want to get beat by. [Ray] had pretty good command of fastball down and away, so I was hoping that he would get it there again, and we'd get another one of those swings and get out of the inning. [It was] just elevated and over the plate to a guy that's got really good power the other way."

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Kimbrel a wizard at the plate, too: It took 289 games in the Major Leagues, but Kimbrel got his first at-bat in the top of the ninth, striking out looking against Josh Collmenter. Hey, at least he fouled off one pitch. Otherwise, he took two strikes and a ball. Kimbrel also had one at-bat in the Minors five years ago. He struck out.

Oh yeah, the four-out save was his 37th of the season and he whiffed the D-backs side in the ninth.

Starting Salty: Saltalamacchia's homer was his ninth of the year and eighth since joining the D-backs. He has now homered in four straight starts behind the plate.

"He's swung the bat well for us," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "He's obviously come here and re- created himself, and he's doing a good job behind the plate, and he's swinging the bat well."

WHAT'S NEXT Padres: The Padres have an off day on Thursday and then travel to Denver to open a three-game weekend set against the Rockies at Coors Field on Friday night. Right-hander Ian Kennedy (8-15, 4.28) is scheduled to start for the Padres against right-hander Chad Bettis (7-5, 4.59) for the Rockies.

D-backs: After taking Thursday off, the D-backs open a three-game series in San Francisco on Friday night with Rubby De La Rosa on the mound. The series with the Giants begins a 10-game road trip that also includes games against the Dodgers and Padres.

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Kimbrel gets taste of his own medicine in 1st AB Closer strikes out looking, before whiffing three in 9th By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | 12:54 AM ET PHOENIX -- Padres closer extraordinaire Craig Kimbrel had pitched in 288 Major League games over six seasons without taking one hack at the plate. That was bound to happen, and it finally did in the top of the ninth inning on Wednesday night as the Padres hung on to defeat the D-backs, 4-3, at Chase Field. Padres interim manager Pat Murphy went to the mound to make a pitching change in the bottom of the eighth, replacing Joaquin Benoit with Kimbrel, giving him a four-out save opportunity with two out and a runner on second.

Murphy told Kimbrel before leaving the mound in no uncertain terms that he was going to hit. Kimbrel didn't realize it at the time, but the 's spot was due up third in the ninth inning.

"I was kind of caught off guard," Kimbrel said. "I didn't realize it. I didn't know if I was up fourth or whatever. But it was fun." First, Kimbrel got Jarrod Saltalamacchia to ground out to second on his first offering, ending the threat. Then, it was Kimbrel's chance at the plate, with two out and nobody on against Josh Collmenter. He struck out looking, fouling off the second pitch.

"It didn't matter when I was going to get it, the result would have been the same," Kimbrel said about the at bat. "He threw me a nasty front-door cutter. I wasn't expecting that. I'm glad I got at least one swing."

Kimbrel then went out and did the job he's paid to do, striking out the D-backs in order in the bottom of the ninth to record his 37th save of the season and 223rd already of his short career.

Murphy decided that he didn't want to switch with either of the last two batters of the eighth inning -- his middle infielders Jedd Gyorko or Cory Spangenberg -- when Kimbrel came into the game.

"It's a little unorthodox, but that's the way we chose to do it," Murphy said. "We knew we were going to be questioned about it. If they tie the game there, [Kimbrel] doesn't hit. We were taking a chance, but it's time to take some chances. Nothing else has worked."

Of all the preseason deals engineered by general manager A.J. Preller, getting Kimbrel from the Braves might have been the best. The Padres, after all, have always had a lights out closer.

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One of them, , with his all-time National League-leading 601 saves, will be on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time later in the year. Hoffman had 36 plate appearances and four hits in 18 years.

The season has been a frustrating one, Kimbrel said.

"It's been disappointing," he said. "We played good ball at times, but we were never able to put it together. Personally for myself I can say it has been a frustrating year."

Wednesday night, though, provided a high note. Kimbrel had one at-bat in six Minor League seasons and struck out that time, too -- in 2010 for Atlanta's -A affiliate, Gwinnett. There's not a lot of slugging history there.

"Obviously I hit in high school, but when I went to college [Wallace State Community] I didn't hit at all there, either," Kimbrel said. "I mess around [in the batting cage], but they don't let me do too much. They don't want me to pull an oblique or something. It's been a long time since I've had a consistent at-bat and tonight definitely showed that."

He might have another five years to get ready for the next one.

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3rd elbow surgery coming for JJ Padres RHP has not pitched in MLB since 2013 By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | September 16th, 2015

PHOENIX -- Josh Johnson's long road back to the big leagues just got a lot longer. The Padres said on Wednesday that Johnson will have to undergo a third Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

Johnson met with Dr. James Andrews in Florida earlier this week and determined the course of action. Johnson has already had Tommy John surgery twice and has not pitched in the Major Leagues since 2013 for the Blue Jays. Dr. Andrews conducted the first two procedures.

No starter has ever come back from a third elbow ligament replacement surgery to start in the Majors, but Padres manager Pat Murphy said before Wednesday night's finale of a three-game series against the D-backs at Chase Field that Johnson will give it another try.

"I think it's a great example for a lot of people," Murphy said. "A lot of guys would shut it down. A lot of guys would say they've had enough. 'I've had a great career.' To see him persevere and then to be hit with this news and have to go after it, speaks volumes about who he is."

The Padres signed Johnson as a free agent on Nov. 20, 2013, and aside from Spring Training of 2014, he has yet to throw a pitch in the Major Leagues for the club. He underwent Tommy John surgery on April 24 of that season and has been rehabbing since then.

Even so, the Padres re-signed him last offseason with the hope that he'd work his way back. It didn't happen. Johnson had the original Tommy John surgery on Aug. 3, 2007, while pitching for the Marlins.

Johnson did not pitch in the Major Leagues or the Minor Leagues last season while recovering from the injury, and he made just one appearance in the Minors this season. Johnson suited up for Lake Elsinore, San Diego's affiliate in the Class A Advanced California League, and faced just one batter in that outing before hurting the elbow again.

Johnson, who has gone 58-45 with a 3.40 ERA during his big league career, was a National League All-Star in 2009 and '10 for the Marlins. The 31-year-old right-hander was dealt to the Blue Jays in the winter of 2012 as part of a massive trade and made 16 starts for Toronto in '13, 6 posting a 2-8 record and a 6.20 ERA. That year he spent two stints on the disabled list and didn't pitch after Aug. 14 of that season because of a flexor strain in his right forearm.

Johnson has been working his way back ever since then.

"Talk about never quitting, that's pretty special," Murphy said. "I can't wait for the day he does toe the rubber again, and I think it will happen."

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Kennedy starts as Padres open weekend set in Colorado By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | September 16th, 2015

The Padres have an off-day on Thursday and then travel to Denver to open a three-game weekend set against the Rockies at Coors Field on Friday night.

Right-hander Ian Kennedy (8-15, 4.28) is scheduled to start for the Padres against right-hander Chad Bettis (7-5, 4.59) for the Rockies.

The weekend games will close the season series between the two teams. The Padres hold an overwhelming 11-5 advantage over the Rockies this season, finishing 7-2 at San Diego. They are 4-3 in Colorado. Things to know about this game:

• The Padres will have gone 148 consecutive games starting a right-hander when Kennedy takes the mound on Friday night. That streak will end on Saturday with lefty Robbie Erlin slated to start. The last time a lefty made a start for the Padres was Erlin himself on Sept. 28, 2014 at San Francisco, the final game of last season.

• The Rockies are only one of three Major League teams to have two players with more than 20 doubles and 20 steals this season in DJ LeMahieu and . Shortstop Jose Reyes has also done it, but his effort began in Toronto this season before his trade to Colorado.

• If the Padres go 8-7 the rest of the way, they'll match last year's 77-85 finish. If they go 7-8, they'll match the 76-86 finishes of 2012 and '13. Their last season above .500 was their 90-72 campaign in 2010 -- the only time they've finished above .500 since 2007.

• Erlin starting on Saturday is not good news for the Rockies. They are 8-27 when facing left-handed starters this season and are in the midst of a streak in which they are facing six lefty starters in seven games -- Kennedy being the lone exception.

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Loss of Maurer, Kelley has crippled Friars' 'pen Notes on J. Upton, Ross, Spangenberg, Jankowski By Bill Center / | September 16th, 2015

Craig Kimbrel has had one save opportunity in September and five since Aug. 11. Shawn Kelley has been sidelined while nursing a nerve issue in his right forearm since Sept. 1. And Brandon Maurer went on the disabled list with season-ending shoulder inflammation on Aug. 11.

There is a connection. Kelley and Maurer were the middle-inning relievers who got leads to setup manJoaquin Benoit and Kimbrel.

And as evidenced Tuesday night in Arizona, that part of the Padres' game has fallen apart.

Interim manager Pat Murphy said as much Tuesday afternoon while talking about the possible return of Kelley next week.

"We've missed him and Maurer," said Murphy. "We lost a ton of games recently in the sixth and seventh innings." His words proved prophetic hours later as the Padres took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh thanks to the pitching of starter Tyson Ross before bullpen gave up five runs in one inning, resulting in a 6-4 loss.

In 33 games since Aug. 11, the middle relievers have adversely affected the outcomes of 12 games, directly leading to eight losses. The Padres are 14-19 in those 33 games. Instead of Kelley and Maurer, the bridge between the starters and Benoit and Kimbrel has mainly been Bud Norris, Kevin Quackenbush and Nick Vincent.

Not that it is all their fault. Kimbrel blew one of the four save opportunities he's had since Aug. 17 while allowing four runs in seven appearances. Benoit has allowed three runs in five outings this month with a save, a blown save and a loss. And the starting haven't gone as deep as expected into games.

The early and middle relievers have been overworked as well as ineffective.

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Norris has a 6.92 ERA since joining the Padres on Aug. 10 and has given up five runs on four hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings over his last two appearances. Quackenbush has allowed four runs on two hits and four walks without retiring a hitter in his last two appearances. Left-hander Marc Rzepczynski has a 7.71 ERA since joining the Padres on Aug. 1 and allowed runs (eight total) in four straight appearances. Left-hander Frank Garces has given up three runs in four appearances since returning Sept. 3. AndOdrisamer Despaigne has allowed runs (15 total) in five of his last six relief appearances. From the scorecard • 's 458-homer Tuesday night in Arizona was the longest by a Padres player this season. The homer was Upton's 26th. He also hit his 22nd double in the game as part of a 3-for-4 night, although he struggled with several balls hit to left field. Before his first-inning blast Tuesday, Upton was 1-for-16 with 12 against Rockies' right-handed starter Jhoulys Chacin.

• Ross is 5-3 in his last 14 starts, with a 2.73 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings. His ERA on the season is down to 3.18, his lowest mark since his first start of the season. • Travis Jankowski is 4-for-10 with a homer and two RBIs over his last three games. • Cory Spangenberg has hit safely in five of the last six games, going 7-for-21 with two doubles, a steal, three RBIs and four runs.

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Kemp's HR lifts Cashner, Padres Padres score four runs with two outs, Cashner wins first road game since May By Dennis Lin | 9:30 p.m. Sept. 16, 2015 | Updated, 8:04 a.m. | Sept. 17, 2015 PHOENIX — Two-out situations have been precarious for the Padres this season. When they should be shutting the door they've often left it ajar, wide enough for the other team to rush through; the staff's two-out ERA has slid from first in the majors a year ago (3.26) all the way down to 21st (4.89). Wednesday, a frustrating trend continued at Chase Field, where Andrew Cashner, an out away in the bottom of the fourth, allowed two walks and then a two-run single. This time, the Padres struck back.

In a 4-3 series-clincher against the , the visitors scored all four times with two outs, the highlight Matt Kemp's three-run homer in the top of the fifth. That turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead and proved enough to help Cashner to his first win on the road since May 27.

To be sure, it has been a frustratingly uneven season for the right-hander. While the Padres improved to 69-78, Cashner improved to 6-15 on Wednesday. Though he leads the majors with 22 unearned runs, he also has beaten himself.

Take the fourth inning. In the top half, Brett Wallace, who'd come off the bench for a rare start at first base, laced a one-out double to right. Two batters later, Cory Spangenberg gave Cashner a 1-0 lead with a two-out single.

In the home half of the inning, Cashner opened by blowing strike three, a 95 mph fastball, past Paul Goldschmidt. redirected Cashner's next pitch, a , for a double. After freezing Jarrod Saltalamacchia for a strikeout, Cashner issued consecutive walks before slinging a first-pitch, 98 mph heater over the middle of the plate. Chris Owings pounced, driving in both baserunners. Cashner's lead was gone.

It reappeared in the next inning, as the D-backs' starter, Robbie Ray, received a lesson of his own. After retiring the first two batters, the young left-hander walked Padres leadoff man Wil Myers. Yangervis Solarte followed with a single. Then, on a 1-1 count,

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Kemp took a pitch on the outer half of the plate the opposite way, lining a drive over the right-field fence.

The , Kemp's 22nd of the season, gave him 97 RBIs, the most by a Padres outfielder since Greg Vaughn finished with 119 in 1998. Three more, and Kemp will become the 14th player in Padres history to record 100 RBIs in a season. The right fielder has done it twice in his career, most recently with 126 in 2011.

"I'm just playing my game, man," Kemp said. "They pay me to drive in runs, and that's what I need to do."

Lifted by his offense, Cashner encountered more turbulence soon after. In the sixth, he aimed another first-pitch slider down in the zone. Saltalamacchia took a two-iron to it, sending a solo shot to right-center. Cashner retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.

Make no mistake: Wednesday's start was largely positive for the 29-year-old. He recently began working on a new slider grip, perhaps accounting for the hiccups. He wriggled out of trouble in the first, when the D-backs opened with two singles and Cashner responded with a strikeout and a double play.

Cashner started another inning-ending double play himself, gloving a comebacker in the fifth and calmly throwing the ball to Jedd Gyorko at second base. In his 1-2-3 seventh, Cashner won an eight-pitch at-bat with A.J. Pollock, catching the leadoff hitter looking with a two-seamer painted on the outer edge. Until then, Pollock had been 3-for-3.

"I think I just commanded my fastball a lot better, kept it down in the zone and kept them off balance as far as the inside and outside of the plate," Cashner said.

It was one of Cashner's most efficient outings of the season: He finished with 90 pitches, 62 for strikes. Over his seven innings, he allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out six.

"He was the player of the game, for me," Murphy said. "He just attacked, threw 75 percent, if not more, . Kind of got away from trying to trick them and pitch to 12 the corners, and just attacked. ... Hopefully he learned something that he can take with him going forward, that he doesn't need to get deep in counts. His fastball's that good."

In the bottom of the eighth, setup man Joaquin Benoit sandwiched a double with two strikeouts. With the switch-hitting Jarrod Saltalamacchia up to bat, Padres interim manager Pat Murphy summoned Craig Kimbrel to attempt a four-out save.

Kimbrel got Saltalamacchia to ground out on the first pitch. In the top of the ninth, Kimbrel remained in to make his first career plate appearance with two outs. The pitcher fell behind 0-2, laid off two pitches and gazed at strike three.

"It's a little unorthodox," Murphy said of not deploying a double-switch. "We knew we'd get questioned on it, but it's one of those deals where you say, Who do you want to take out? Is it an improvement in the defense? No. We're winning the game. If we're not, we're going to pinch-hit for him anyway. So why do it? That's what we went with."

"I really didn't even see it coming," Kimbrel said, smiling. "I joked about it earlier today, coming in in the eighth and not double-switching and me getting an at-bat, and it actually happened. It was fun. (I was) kind of caught off guard, and it didn't matter if I knew I was going to get in or not. I think the outcome would've been the same."

Kimbrel moved on quickly, striking out the side to record his 37th save.

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Johnson to have third Tommy John surgery Pades right-hander hasn't pitched in majors since 2013 By Dennis Lin | 10:32 a.m. Sept. 16, 2015 | Updated, 5:44 p.m. PHOENIX — Josh Johnson has never thrown, and in all likelihood will never throw, a pitch for the Padres, though that already was evident after his latest comeback attempt hit a wall. Whether he'll be able to compete again is now the main question. The right-hander will undergo a third Tommy John surgery, likely in California, a source said. Johnson last pitched in the majors in 2013 and almost certainly will miss all of the 2016 season.

A two-time All-Star, Johnson signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Padres in November 2013, having just come off an injury-plagued season with the Blue Jays. He suffered a forearm strain in spring training, and having undergone his first Tommy John surgery in 2007, had his second, known as a UCL revision, performed by Dr. James Andrews last April.

In January, Johnson returned to the Padres on a one-year, $1 million deal with incentives based on games started. His rehab seemingly had been going well until late April, when he experienced triceps soreness following a simulated game.

Johnson eventually resumed throwing but was shut down in June. He began throwing from a mound again last month, this time aiming to return as a a reliever, but on Sept. 5, he exited his first rehab game after only four pitches. Johnson reported more elbow discomfort as the cause.

Though he never appeared in a game for the Padres, Johnson was a constant, popular presence in the home clubhouse at Petco Park.

"He supports everyone," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said. "Every bullpen, Josh Johnson attended it. Just to support his fellow pitchers. That's for two years. His teammates love him. He's there to help everyone for two years, and that's why I think he's going to land on his feet and he's going to pitch again. Nobdy can give this much to the game and not be rewarded.

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"I can't wait for the day he does toe the rubber again. I think it'll happen and it'll be pretty special."

The only two players to pitch in the majors after a third Tommy John surgery are Jose Rijo and Jason Isringhausen. Jonny Venters, an All-Star reliever for the Braves in 2011, underwent his third surgery last September and is attempting to return with the Rays organization.

CBSSports.com first reported that Johnson will have a third surgery.

Notable

• Padres Justin Upton was sick Wednesday and out of the starting lineup. Wil Myers made his second start in left, while Brett Wallace started at first base. • Derek Norris (bruised right hand) "seemed a little better" Wednesday, Murphy said. With Austin Hedges making a second straight start behind the plate, Norris remained out of the lineup. Murphy said he was potentially available to pinch-hit.

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Friar talk: J.J. knew he had torn ligament? Josh Johnson's agent says Padres supported pitcher's decision to try to pitch through injury By Jeff Sanders | 5 a.m. Sept. 17, 2015 Forearm tightness derailed Josh Johnson after his first sim game this year. Then tingling in his fingers cut short another after just three pitches. By the time he walked off the mound with discomfort in his right elbow after four pitches in his first rehab game earlier this month, the 31-year-old right-hander knew exactly what he was dealing with.

Even if he wasn't disclosing it publicly.

As news hit Wednesday that Johnson would elect a third Tommy John surgery (almost expected after last week's shutdown), his agent told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick that his client knew he had a torn ligament 10 weeks ago. "The Padres' upper management and their medical staff have been very supportive," agent Matt Sosnick said, "and they told him he could try to pitch through it."

And try he did, although the odds were never on Johnson's side to return to the rotation, much less a bullpen role. Even if he matched Dan Hudson's record-setting pace of some 15 months from a second Tommy John, the earliest he could have return to a bullpen role would have been July.

Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, two of the 11 pitchers who underwent revisions in 2014, progressed along those lines. The Padres' two patients – Johnson and Cory Luebke – will not return to the majors this year, adding credence to research recently submitted to the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery that has found revision rehabbers, on average, return to a major league mound at a little more than 20 months.

Luebke, at 19 months and counting, will widen that average should he get to the majors next year. Meanwhile, Johnson – who will almost assuredly miss all of 2016 – is entering relatively uncharted territory: Only two pitchers (Jose Rijo and Jason Isringhausen) are known to have returned from three Tommy Johns while another

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(Jonny Venters) is attempting that feat now with the Rays after the Braves cut him loose.

Wherever he is in 2017, Johnson will certainly have supporters in San Diego.

"He supports everyone," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said before a 4-3 win Wednesday, bought and paid for by a three-run homer from Matt Kemp. "Every bullpen, Josh Johnson attended it. Just to support his fellow pitchers. That's for two years. His teammates love him. He's there to help everyone for two years, and that's why I think he's going to land on his feet and he's going to pitch again. Nobody can give this much to the game and not be rewarded. "I can't wait for the day he does toe the rubber again. I think it'll happen and it'll be pretty special."

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Kemp's 3-run homer lifts Padres to 4-3 win over Diamondbacks Associated Press

PHOENIX -- Andrew Cashner set aside nearly five months of struggles Wednesday night. The result was an effective outing that was backed by Matt Kemp's three-run homer to help the San Diego Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks4-3.

"Cashner was great; player of the game for me," manager Pat Murphy said. "He just attacked a very good offensive team...with 75 percent (of his pitches) or more were fastballs. Hopefully, he learned something he can take with him going forward, that he doesn't need to go deep in counts. His fastball is that good."

Cashner (6-15) allowed seven hits and three runs, striking out six and walking two, in seven innings. He had lost 13 of his previous 17 decisions since April 24.

"I haven't really gone deep into games lately," Cashner said. "It was big to go deep. I commanded my fastball a lot better. I kept it down in the zone. I kept them off balance as far as inside and outside of the plate."

Trailing 2-1 in the fifth inning, Wil Myers walked and then Yangervis Solarte singled. Kemp followed with a line drive to right that barely cleared the fence to give the Padres a 4-2 lead and chase Robbie Ray (4-12) from the game.

Kemp hit a fastball on a 2-2 count. He knew he'd hit the ball well, but wasn't sure he'd knocked it out.

"The ball travels well here," Kemp said. "Good thing we were playing here."

Kemp has 22 homers and 97 RBI, most for a Padres' outfielder since Greg Vaughn had 119 in 1998.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a solo homer off Cashner in the sixth to cut the Padres' lead to 4-3. Craig Kimbrell got the final four outs for his 37th save. He also got his first career at-bat in the eighth, striking out. Kimbrell, who hadn't pitched in a week, had joked earlier in the day that he might get an extended stint on the mound and that he might actually step in the batter's box.

Then, "It actually happened," Kimbrell said. "It was fun."

Murphy said he let Kimbrell hit because he was reluctant to do a double-switch and remove any of his starters, for both offensive and defensive reasons.

A.J. Pollock had three hits, including a double. David Peralta extended his hitting streak to 13 with a double in the fourth.

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The Diamondbacks loaded the bases in the fourth on Peralta's double and Cashner's walks to Jake Lamb and Brandon Drury. Then Chris Owingslined a two-run single to right to give Arizona a 2-1 lead.

The Padres took a 1-0 lead when Cory Spangenberg singled home Brett Wallace, who had doubled, in the fourth.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Ian Kennedy (8-14, 4.28 ERA) is set to start Friday night at Colorado. He lost his last start, an 8-0 Padres' loss Saturday at San Francisco. Diamondbacks: LHP Rubby De La Rosa (12-8, 4.75) will make his 30th start of the season Friday night at San Francisco. He has a 2.20 ERA in three career outings at the Giants. TRAINER's ROOM

Padres: RHP Josh Johnson will undergo a third Tommy John surgery, the Padres have announced. Johnson had undergone the procedure in 2007 and 2014. In January, he had signed a one-year deal with the Padres then had worked his way back to a minor-league game recently but had to come out after four pitches. Johnson, who has a career 58-45 career record with a 3.40 ERA, will miss the 2016 season. "A lot of guys would shut it down and say, `I've had enough. I've had a great career," manager Pat Murphy said. "Talk about never quitting. That's special. I can't wait for the day he toes the rubber again. I think it will happen."

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