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Padres hold off Royals

Jun 28, 2011 - 7:00 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Ryan Ludwick had a two-run home run as San Diego held on to defeat Kansas City, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

Mat Latos (5-8) lasted six frames, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks while fanning six in the Padres' fifth win in their last six games.

Heath Bell tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his 21st save.

Jeff Francis (3-9) yielded four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and a walk through five innings as the Royals had their brief two-game win streak snapped. They've lost seven of their last nine.

"I didn't have a very good feel for [my curveball] today," Francis said. "I just held on to it a little too long."

Bell got two quick outs before getting himself into trouble. Consecutive singles by Melky Cabrera and Chris Getz put the tying run in scoring position. But a weak grounder to first by Eric Hosmer ended the inning as Bell covered the bag for the final put out to convert his 14th straight save opportunity. Bell has converted 21 of 22 save opportunities this season and 55 of 56 chances dating back to last May

Ludwick gave the Padres an early lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.

"That was big for sure, getting the lead for [Latos]. Matt's a pretty good frontrunner when he gets runs," Padres manager Bud Black said of Ludwick's blast.

Kansas City got a run back in the third after Cabrera and Getz hit back-to- back singles to start the inning and put runners on the corners. Hosmer then sent a ball into deep left field, allowing Cabrera to score on the sacrifice fly.

But the Padres got that run right back in the bottom half of the inning. Mat Latos led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout by Chris Denorfia. During a Chase Headley at-bat, Francis bounced a curveball past catcher Brayan Pena and Latos crossed the plate on the wild pitch to give San Diego a 3-1 lead.

They could have added another run in the frame on Ludwick's double off the left-field wall, but Alcides Escobar's relay throw beat Headley to the plate as he rounded third. Pena fielded the ball and held on as Headley plowed into him for the final out.

Jesus Guzman was able to add to the lead in the fourth without a hit thanks to a couple of throwing errors by the Royals. Guzman started the inning with a grounder to short, but Escobar threw the ball past Hosmer at first, moving Guzman to second. Two batters later, Orlando Hudson hit a bouncer to third. Mike Moustakas got the out at first, but Hosmer tossed the ball away as Guzman tried for third on the play and Guzman took home on the errant throw.

Kansas City answered again in the sixth to get back within a run. Alex Gordon's infield single and Jeff Francoeur's single put runners on the corners with no outs. Francoeur then stole second and Pena brought the two runners home when he pulled a double down the first-base line, making it a 4-3 contest.

Pena tagged up to third on an Escobar flyout, but was stranded there when pinch-hitter Billy Butler grounded out second to first to end the inning. Pena's double was the Royals' only hit with runners in scoring position as they ended the day 1-for-9 in those situations and stranded nine men on base.

Game Notes

Gordon extended his hit streak to 14 games...San Diego also went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base...The Royals fell to 0-4 at Petco Park, leaving it as the only active ballpark Kansas City has not recorded a win.