Padres Get By Marlins

     Jeff Baker left the bases loaded with two out in the ninth inning on a fielder's choice as the Miami Marlins fell to the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Sunday at Petco Park. The Marlins have lost three straight games and now have a 3-13 record on the road. Next for the Fish is a three-game set in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.
     Marlins starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez dropped to 2-3 as he gave up five runs on seven hits in four innings. Robbie Erlin pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings for the Friars, surrendered five hits and struck out seven to raise his record to 2-4. Houston Street held off the Marlins in the ninth inning to get his 11th save.
     It just took the first at-bat of the game for San Diego(18-31) to take the lead during the first inning. Will Venable ripped his first home run of the year as he took a 1-0 pitch over the right-field wall.
     The Padres punished the Fish more in the fourth inning with four runs to make it 5-0. Chase Headley had a lead-off single to left, Yasmani Grandal flied out to left and Yonder Alonso walked. Alexi Amarista followed with a base hit into right field to score Headley. After Venable walked to load the bases with two out, Chris Denorfia then slapped a two-run single to left field as Alonso and Amarista scored. Seth Smith capped the frame with a RBI-single into center for Venable to cross the plate.
     In the eighth inning, Miami(20-18) bounced back with four runs as they made it a contest again. Christian Yelich blasted a lead-off homer against Dale Thayer to right-center field on a 3-2 count for his third home run of the season. Joaquin Benoit relieved Thayer after he allowed a base hit by Reed Johnson to center. Giancarlo Stanton singled to right then Casey McGehee flew out to right. Baker followed with a two-run triple to right field for Johnson and Stanton to score. Two batters later, Adeiny Hechavarria grounded out to second and drove in Baker.