Chirinos' 3 RBIs lead Rangers past Padres 6-3
Robinson Chirinos of the Rangers points out to Isiah Kiner-Falefa after scoring during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 15, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Robinson Chirinos hit a three-run double during a five-run sixth inning to help the Texas Rangers beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 on Saturday night.
San Diego led 3-1 prior to the big inning. The Padres fell to 59-90, losing 90 games for the third straight season.
The Rangers sent 10 to the plate in the sixth mostly against the bullpen after a solid five-inning start by Eric Lauer. The left-hander was charged with two runs, including one in the sixth after allowing Elvis Andrus' leadoff single.
After Trey Wingenter walked Adrian Beltre, Jose Castillo (2-3) allowed a single to Jurickson Profar, RBI doubles to Chirinos and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and a run-scoring single to Shin-Soo Choo.
The Rangers had a reliever open the game for the second straight night, with lefty Alex Claudio getting the nod. Claudio gave way to Ariel Jurado after an inning. Things didn't immediately go as well as the previous game, when four Rangers blanked the Padres.
Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer off Jurado (3-5) for a 3-1 lead in the third. Hosmer smacked the outside pitch the opposite way off the second deck of the Western Metal Building in left field. Before Hosmer's 17th homer and fourth in seven games, Wil Myers walked and Franmil Reyes singled.
The Padres didn't score again against Jurado as he went four innings and surrendered six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. It was the third consecutive outing that a reliever pitched before Jurado, and for the first time, the rookie right-hander earned a victory.
After Jurado exited, Martin Perez worked two innings, with Connor Sadzeck and Jose Leclerc each pitching a frame, with Leclerc notching his 11th save.
Joey Gallo hit his team-high 39th home run for Texas and his third on the road trip for a 1-0 lead in the first.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Chris Martin (upper-respiratory) wasn't available Saturday and his condition will be updated Sunday.
UP NEXT
Rangers LHP Mike Minor (12-7, 4.19) gets the start as Texas wraps its nine-game road trip. Minor has gone 3-1 in his last four starts while pitching to a 1.96 ERA. The last time he faced the Padres, Minor took a perfect game into the seventh inning before Hosmer's single. Padres RHP Jacob Nix (2-3, 6.00) makes his first start against the Rangers and the seventh of his career.
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