SAN DIEGO (AP) - For 13 seasons, right-handed sluggers have peppered the Western Metal Supply Co. building in the left-field corner at Petco Park, driving home runs into the three decks and off the facade.
No one had hit a home run to land on the roof until San Diego Padres rookie Hunter Renfroe did it Wednesday night.
His two-run shot went an estimated 435 feet and helped carry the Padres to a 6-5 victory against the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
“A home run’s a home run, honestly,” said Renfroe, who seemed unimpressed by his mammoth shot with one out in the third off rookie Jose De Leon.” I guess it’s probably pretty cool to be the first one to do it. “
Renfroe, the MVP of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, has had an impressive debut since he was called up from Triple-A El Paso on Sept. 21, hitting four home runs and driving in 12 runs in seven games.
It’ll be hard for him to top the homer that landed atop the brick warehouse, a remnant from the skid row neighborhood that made way for Petco Park, which opened in 2004.
“You really don’t feel anything. It’s kind of a like a ’spat’ and then it goes. It disappears real quick and you kind of know it’s a home a run,” said Renfroe, who was the MVP of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.
Renfroe drove in all seven runs in Tuesday night’s 7-1 win, on his first grand slam and a three-run homer. The three-run blast was a moonshot to left.
Then came his roof shot.
“It was impressive,” manager Andy Green said. “I think we all know he’s got a ton of raw power. I wasn’t expecting that. But I guess maybe he did miss the one yesterday out to left. I guess he didn’t hit it on the barrel, if that’s what the barrel does. It’s impressive power. It’s a great start for him and I’m sure he’s pleased to get off on that right foot.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the home run “came off pretty hot. This kid has power and is swinging the bat really well. You make a mistake and get it over, he is going to make you pay.”
De Leon said Renfroe “is pretty powerful. You have to tip your hat to him. The pitch was in where we wanted and he just got the head out and it was a monster shot. There is nothing you can do about that.”
Los Angeles remains two games behind the Washington Nationals in the race for home-field advantage for their division series matchup, with four to play.
The Dodgers lost despite hitting three home runs off rookie Luis Perdomo (9-10), who had three of four starts coming in. Brandon Maurer pitched the ninth for his 13th save.
Chase Utley hit a leadoff homer to left and Adrian Gonzalez add a solo shot deep into the seats in right with two outs in the first.
The Padres took a 3-2 lead off De Leon after loading the bases with one out in first. Renfroe hit a two-run single and rookie Ryan Schimpf followed with an RBI double.
Gonzalez hit an RBI double to tie it in the third before Renfroe gave the Padres a 5-3 lead with his homer.
The Dodgers tied it on Joc Pederson’s two-run homer to right in the fourth.
San Diego regained the lead in the bottom of the inning when rookie Manuel Margot doubled off Ross Stripling (5-9) and scored on Wil Myers’ groundout.
Perdomo allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings, struck out two and walked one.
Perdomo was a Rule 5 draft pick who had never pitched above A ball.
“His future’s really bright,” Green said. “I think it’s a really impressive season for a guy who came from A ball last year and spent most of the year in low A. Were really pleased. I know today he would have loved to have had a better last outing but he kept us in the game to get a win. That says something about his development.”
De Leon allowed five runs, three earned on four hits in 2 1/3 innings, struck out one and walked three.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: The team said LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu underwent an arthroscopic cleanup of his left elbow, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. He is expected to be ready for the 2017 season.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Julio Urias (5-2, 3.53) is back in the rotation, scheduled to make his first start since Sept. 13.
Padres: LHP Christian Friedrich (5-11, 4.66) is scheduled to start the series finale.
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