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Padres hang on to beat Marlins, take series

May 12, 2014 - 4:05 AM San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Denorfia collected two hits and two RBI, while San Diego used a four-run fourth inning and held on late to post a 5-4 victory over Miami in the finale of a four-game set.

Will Venable added a solo homer among his two hits and scored twice for the Padres, who took the final three in the series to erase a three-game losing streak. Seth Smith and Alexi Amarista also knocked in a run each for the hosts.

Robbie Erlin (2-4) fanned a career-high seven batters and permitted only five hits over 6 1/3 innings, but his bullpen made it interesting late. Dale Thayer and Joaquin Benoit each allowed two runs to chip away at a 5-0 advantage.

Huston Street eventually earned his 11th save of the season, but not before loading the bases with two outs in the ninth.

"There was a little crisis at the end, but Huston has proven through his career he knows how to get outs," Padres manager Bud Black said. "That's the sign of a good closer. He did his job."

Jeff Baker picked up a pair of hits and drove in a run while Christian Yelich added a solo homer for the Marlins, who entered the set having won five straight. Miami lost despite having five different players register at least two hits, the fifth time it has occurred this season.

Henderson Alvarez (2-3) was charged in defeat with seven hits and five runs over just four full frames.

Yelich put any shutout hopes to rest with his leadoff shot against Thayer in the eighth. After Reed Johnson singled, Joaquin Benoit got the call but gave up a single to Giancarlo Stanton before retiring Casey McGehee on a liner to right. Baker followed with a two-run triple off the glove of Denorfia and the Marlins closed within 5-3.

Garrett Jones walked and moved up on a wild pitch, then scored when Adeiny Hechavarria followed with a single, then Jarrod Saltalamacchia fanned to end the rally.

Street got into trouble immediately, allowing a pinch-single from Marcell Ozuna and a fielder's choice grounder which put Yelich on base. Stanton then drew a two-out walk and McGehee also worked a base on balls, but Baker grounded into a game-ending grounder to short.

"We're being tested on the road. Now we'll find out what we're made of, said Marlins manager Mike Redmond. "You've got to play through adversity and keep going. That's where we're at right now. We've got to find a way to win on the road."

Venable launched the second pitch of the home first into the right-field seats to put the hosts on the board.

San Diego picked up four more in the fourth and appeared to have an iron-clad advantage.

Chase Headley's leadoff single preceded a one-out walk to Yonder Alonso, then Amarista's base hit plated Headley. Erlin's grounder put both runners in scoring position, and Venable walked to load the bases. Denorfia hit a two-run single, then Seth Smith's base hit plated Venable to make it 5-0.

"Today we had some big hits," Black added. "Denorfia got the big two-out hit after they pitched around Will. That was a key at-bat that flipped the game to us momentum-wise. And, it turned out that we needed them all."

Game Notes

The Padres have posted a perfect 4-0 mark at Petco Park on Mothers' Day since the venue opened in 2004 ... Since 2000, the Padres own a 5-1 mark on this holiday at home, with the only loss coming on May 13, 2001 at the hands of the Marlins ... San Diego has participated in an MLB-high 26 one-run contests this season, and improved to 14-12 in such games ... Despite winning three of four, Padres batters fanned 48 times, the second-most in franchise history behind only the 53 they recorded during a five-game series against the Astros in Houston from July 6-9, 1995 ... However, Padres pitchers recorded 45 strikeouts, setting a new franchise record in a four- game series, surpassing the 44 against Montreal from August 28-30, 1998 ... Prior to the contest, the Marlins designated pitcher Carlos Marmol for assignment and pitcher Henry Rodriguez had his contract purchased from Triple-A New Orleans.