SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Kansas City Royals had to work overtime to end a season-high, five-game losing streak and get their first win at Petco Park.
Alex Gordon singled in the go-ahead run with one out in the 11th inning and pinch-hitter Billy Butler followed with an RBI double to give the Royals a 3-1 victory against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.
The Royals also got great pitching from starter Jeremy Guthrie and relievers Wade Davis and Greg Holland, who held San Diego to one run on six hits.
“We knew that we were 0-7 in this place and we needed to change that,” manager Ned Yost said. “Our pitching allowed us to do that tonight. Guthrie, Wade Davis, Holland, were all fantastic. They kept us in position, right there in the ballgame, until we could break it open. It took us 11 innings to do it, but the pitching was tremendous.”
Eric Hosmer started the winning rally when he hit a leadoff double to center off Nick Vincent (0-1). Gordon singled to right with one out and Hosmer beat the throw home with a headfirst slide, touching the plate with his left hand.
“A long losing streak it seems like, so we just needed something positive to happen there,” Gordon said. “I was able to find a hole. It works.”
Butler then doubled in Gordon.
“I think the frustration was kicking in a little bit but hopefully this can motivate us a little bit,” Gordon said.
Davis (2-1) pitched two innings of one-hit ball for the victory, striking out four. Greg Holland, who blew the save Monday night, pitched the 11th for his eighth save in nine chances.
Guthrie went a season-high eight innings, allowing one run and four hits, with two strikeouts and one walk.
“He threw strikes, changed speeds and kept the ball down,” Yost said.
“The air was thick tonight and the ball didn’t really carry so that really benefited me and helped me to get deep in the game,” Guthrie said. “Overall I don’t think I had my best stuff, but the park played to my advantage tonight.”
The Padres were denied their first three-game winning streak of the season.
The teams played extra innings for the second straight night. San Diego won 6-5 in 12 innings Monday night.
The Royals had a scoring chance in the ninth against Huston Street. Alcides Escobar singled to center and stole second and third, all with one out. He tried to score on Lorenzo Cain’s pop foul down the first-base line but was thrown out by Kyle Blanks to end the inning.
“I was surprised the runner was going,” catcher Yasmani Grandal said. “Kyle has a very good arm. For him that was an easy catch and throw.”
Each starter gave up a home run.
San Diego’s Yasmani Grandal homered for the second straight game, a solo shot to right field off Guthrie with one out in the fourth for a 1-0 lead. It was his fourth, moving him into the team lead. Grandal hit a tying three-run shot in the sixth inning Monday night.
Salvador Perez tied it with a homer leading off the sixth off San Diego’s Robbie Erlin. It was Perez’s third.
“I wanted to get it on his hands. But I left it out over the middle of the plate,” Erlin said.
Erlin got a no-decision after losing his previous four starts. He allowed one run and three hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked four.
“My curve felt good,” he said. “It felt like my offspeed pitches were what I was on with. I was trying to get a feel for my fastball.”
NOTES: Vincent gave up three hits in the 11th. He had given up only three hits combined in his last 11 outings. … Manager Bud Black said the Padres will call up a pitcher on Wednesday because the bullpen has been taxed. … Black said 3B Chase Headley could be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday. He’s been out with a strained right calf. … The series concludes Wednesday when Kansas City RHP James Shields (3-3, 3.11) opposes RHP Andrew Cashner (2-4, 2.72).
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