Padres beat Red Sox 7-0 as Corey Kluber allows five runs over two innings
By Bernie Wilson, AP Sports Writer
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rougned Odor hit a desperately needed bases-clearing double off struggling Corey Kluber in the first inning, Matt Carpenter homered and the San Diego Padres beat the Boston Red Sox 7-0 Sunday for just their third win in 14 games.
Odor finished with two doubles and four RBIs and Michael Wacha (5-1), who pitched for Boston last year, threw six strong innings. The Padres snapped a four-game losing streak and gave their fans something to cheer about after being booed several times during the last three games.
Carpenter drew a bases-loaded walk two batters ahead of Odor's three-run double and then greeted reliever Richard Bleier with a two-run homer to right with one out in the third. Odor added an RBI double in the sixth. The seven runs were the most since a 7-1 win against Cincinnati on May 3.
San Diego came in hitting an MLB-low .191 with runners in scoring position, a mystifying development for a team with baseball's third-highest payroll, considering that bench coach Ryan Flaherty has the additional title of offensive coordinator and the Padres have two assistant hitting coaches.
The Padres have plummeted since beating Clayton Kershaw and the rival Dodgers on May 5, when they were three games above .500 and third in the NL West, one game behind Los Angeles. Their stunning slump left them six games under and 8 1/2 back in fourth place going into Sunday.
The 37-year-old Kluber (2-6) struggled from the start, loading the bases with no outs in the first on two walks and his own fielding error. He retired Juan Soto on a popup but then walked Carpenter to bring in a run. After striking out Ha-Seong Kim, he allowed Odor's double to right. All four runs were unearned.
Kluber allowed Soto's single with one out in the third and made way for Bleier, who then gave up Carpenter's homer, his fourth. Kluber went a season-short 2 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, one earned, and three hits.
Wacha, who took a no-hitter into the eighth on Monday night against Kansas City, allowed five hits while striking out four and walking one.
TRANSACTION
The Red Sox released RHP Ryan Brasier (1-0, 7.29). He was designated for assignment on Monday.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Tanner Houck (3-3, 5.48) is scheduled to start Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels.
Padres: RHP Yu Darvish (2-3, 3.56) is scheduled to start Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Washington. The Nationals will counter with LHP MacKenzie Gore (3-3, 3.69). Gore was one of six players who went to the Nationals in the blockbuster trade on Aug. 2 for Soto and Josh Bell
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