Richard struggles, Padres can't catch Phillies

Richard struggles, Padres can't catch Phillies

Published May. 11, 2012 6:34 p.m. ET

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- One play could have turned the tide for the San Diego Padres.

Andy Parrino's hard-hit liner with the scored tied and the bases loaded in the fourth inning was snared by Philadelphia first baseman Ty Wigginton, saving the go-ahead run and probably at least one more from scoring, as the Padres lost to the Phillies 7-3 on Friday night.

Carlos Ruiz went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs and John Mayberry Jr. homered and drove in three runs to lead Philadelphia.

"The momentum shifted a couple of times," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "We had a chance to break it open with the bases loaded but couldn't get it done."

Yonder Alonso homered for San Diego, which lost for the eighth time in the last 11 meetings with the Phillies. Alonso connected on the long ball despite not feeling well before the game.

"Really terrible, there's some stuff going around," he said of his health. "I made an adjustment, a reaction-type thing. (The homer) felt good but it was one of those days you just want to get over with."

San Diego left-hander Clayton Richard (1-5) gave up five runs on eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.

"He had good stuff but got hurt up in the zone," Black said. "He just couldn't get the ball down. Both homers were on fastballs up."

Mayberry gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead in the second inning by following Ruiz's infield hit with a liner over the wall in left.

The Padres tied it in the fourth on consecutive RBI singles by Alonso and Jesus Guzman, but were robbed of at least two more runs by Ty Wigginton's diving stab of Parrino's liner down the first-base line with the bases loaded for the final out.

Wigginton, whose error two batters earlier allowed the bases to be loaded with one out, was fully extended when he fielded the ball on one hop and stepped on first to rob Parrino of at least a double.

"Parrino hit it right on the screws and the guy made a great play," Alonso said. "It would have been two or three runs."

Ruiz then put the Phillies ahead 4-2 with an opposite-field, two-run homer in the fourth.

Alonso's one-out solo homer in the sixth to deep right pulled San Diego within 4-3.

"He put a great swing on the homer," Black said. "He's finding his way, looking like the guy all the scouts and coaches were talking about."

The Phillies got the run back in the bottom of the inning on Freddy Galvis' double to left that scored Mayberry.

And Philadelphia scored twice more in the seventh on RBI singles by Ruiz and Mayberry to take a 7-3 lead that stood up as the final score.

"It's a big win for us," Ruiz said. "I think that's a good start in this series with San Diego and I hope we'll come back tomorrow and do the same way."

Vance Worley (3-2) allowed three runs on six hits, striking out nine, in six innings to help the Phillies snap a three-game losing streak.

Placido Polanco had a pair of doubles for the Philadelphia, which was playing its first game after manager Charlie Manuel's much-publicized team meeting on Wednesday with the slumping five-time NL East defending champs who entered Friday four games below .500.

"We came out tonight and we played better than they did and won the game," Manuel said. "When you win, you always have confidence. Nobody likes to lose. Losing is a downer. That's how we look at it. It's always good to win."

Said Mayberry, "I think Charlie's pep talk really hit home. There's a sense of urgency. We had to pick it up. I think you kind of saw that today."

San Diego finished with 14 strikeouts, including five straight before the final two outs.

Padres catcher Nick Hundley went 1-for-4 after doubling in the ninth and now has three hits in his last 32 at-bats. Backup catcher John Baker is hitless in his last 18 trips, giving Padres catchers three hits in their last 50 at-bats.

NOTES: San Diego placed right-hander Joe Wieland on the 15-day DL with a strained right elbow and recalled infielder/outfielder James Darnell from Triple-A Tucson. Darnell grounded into a double play as a pinch-hitter Friday. ... Philadelphia ace right-hander Roy Halladay (3-2, 3.28) is scheduled to face Padres righty Edinson Volquez (1-2, 2.98) at 7:05 on Saturday. 

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