Mathis Grand Slam Seals Marlins Win Over Padres
MIAMI (AP) — Jeff Mathis hit a grand slam with one out in the ninth inning Sunday, lifting the Miami Marlins over the San Diego Padres 6-2.
The Padres deployed a five-infielder, two-outfielder defense for Mathis, and he hit a 1-0 pitch past everyone and into the Padres bullpen.
Logan Morrison walked against Tyson Ross (0-4) to start the ninth, took second on a single by Marcell Ozuna, then advanced to third on a flyout. Pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Mathis followed with his second home run.
It was the 3,000th homer in the franchise's 20-year history. It was Mathis' second grand slam, and he hiked his batting average to .129.
Pinch-hitter Carlos Quentin had tied the score with a two-run homer in the seventh off Chad Qualls following a four-pitch walk to Yasmani Grandal.
Steve Cishek (2-4) pitched a hitless ninth.
Nathan Eovaldi, making his third start since coming off the disabled list, limited San Diego to four hits in six innings. Evovaldi missed the first 2½ months of the season because of right shoulder inflammation.
The Padres' Andrew Cashner, who has been plagued lately by poor run support, allowed five hits and two runs in six innings.
Cashner displayed his all-around ability at the plate and in the field. He bunted for a hit to lead off the third inning, and in the fifth he went to his knees to field a tapper by Eovaldi, then rose, ran and slid into first for an unassisted putout.
Quentin, held out of the starting lineup to give him a breather, batted for Cashner in the seventh and hit his ninth homer on the first pitch from Qualls. Quentin had been 0 for 6 as a pinch hitter this season, and it was his third career homer in that role.
Morrison reached on a bloop single for the Marlins' first hit with two out in the fourth. Ozuna also blooped a single, and Derek Dietrich followed with a two-run double.
The Padres loaded the bases with two out in the fourth, but Pedro Ciriaco hit an inning-ending groundout.
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