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Richard stars as Padres top Mariners

Jun 23, 2012 - 5:40 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Pitcher Clayton Richard belted the go-ahead two-run double as part of part of a five-run fourth inning and finished with a career-high three RBI as the San Diego Padres topped the Seattle Mariners, 9-5, in the opener of a three-game interleague series Friday.

Richard (5-7) wasn't too shabby on the mound, either. He allowed five runs -- three earned -- on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings to earn the win. Huston Street got the final out of the ninth with two runners on base to collect his ninth save of the season.

Chase Headley knocked in three runs, Will Venable went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Everth Cabrera and Cameron Maybin both drove in one run for the Padres, who got back in the win column after being swept by the Texas Rangers.

Franklin Gutierrez went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and two runs scored and Miguel Olivo added a solo shot in defeat for the Mariners, who have lost three of their last four games. Ichiro Suzuki added three hits in the loss.

Kevin Millwood (3-6) was knocked around for eight runs -- five earned -- on eight hits over five frames. He walked three and struck out three to take the loss.

Trailing, 4-2, the Friars took the lead with five runs in the fourth. Yonder Alonso was plunked to start the frame and Logan Forsythe beat out an infield hit before Cabrera doubled in Alonso. After Nick Hundley whiffed, Richard came up with a huge hit for his team -- a two-run double down the right field line -- to put the Padres in front, 5-4. Venable added an RBI single in the inning and Headley capped the offensive explosion with a sacrifice fly to make it a 7-4 game.

The M's cut the margin to two in the fifth when Casper Wells reached base thanks to a wild throw from Headley which allowed Gutierrez to score, but San Diego got it right back in the home half of the frame to restore its three-run cushion.

Forsythe ripped a one-out double and moved to third on a groundout by Cabrera before scoring when Richard dunked a single into left for his third RBI of the game.

The Padres padded their lead in the eighth as Headley lofted another sacrifice fly to center to bring home Venable for his third RBI of the night to account for the final cushion.

Earlier, Seattle jumped on top in its first at-bat when Suzuki reached on an error by Forsythe and Gutierrez followed by ripping a changeup from Richard deep into the left field seats for the early two-run lead.

The M's added a run in the second on a solo shot from Olivo, and another run in their next at-bat when Justin Smoak lofted a sacrifice fly to center field which allowed Suzuki to trot home, extending the lead to 4-0, but it was short-lived.

San Diego got back in the game with two runs in the third. Hundley reached on an error by Kyle Seager and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Richard. Venable poked a base hit into left to put runners at the corners and Maybin grounded out to shortstop, which allowed Hundley to score. Headley added a base hit to bring home Venable, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

Game Notes

San Diego improved to 7-6 in interleague play this season...Nine runs established a season-high at Petco Park for the Padres...Wells (0-for-3) had his seven-game hitting streak snapped...Millwood fell to 4-1 in nine career starts against the Padres...San Diego went 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position.