San Diego, CA – Eric Stults threw a two-hitter for his first complete game since 2009 as the San Diego Padres edged the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2-1, to begin a three-game set.
Logan Forsythe had the go-ahead, two-out, two-run single in the sixth inning, as the Padres posted their fourth straight win.
Stults (6-5) walked one batter and had three strikeouts in his third career complete game. He was also made some key plays in the field.
"I thought it was a masterful performance," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He was outstanding, the mix of pitches. The wide range of velocities keeps the hitter off balance and disrupts their timing."
Trevor Cahill (3-8) equaled a career-high with 10 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings, but lost his fourth straight decision.
"He was pretty darn good. It was just the sixth. You can't fault anybody for one inning or one hitter," Arizona acting manager Alan Trammell said.
The Diamondbacks were without manager Kirk Gibson. He was among several individuals suspended for the on-field incidents that occurred during Tuesday's Diamondbacks-Dodgers game.
A sacrifice fly from Cody Ross in the first inning accounted for the only offense for the Diamondbacks, who lost for the fourth time in six games.
Gerardo Parra doubled to start the game, and with one out Ross lifted a fly ball to left that scored Arizona's run.
Stults had to dodge line drives and comebackers to the mound on a few occasions. He had a pair of assists in the sixth inning, and in the bottom half the Padres went in front thanks to clutch hitting.
Alexi Amarista walked and Chase Headley was hit by a pitch before Carlos Quentin dribbled a ball up the third-base line for an infield single to fill the bases with no outs. Kyle Blanks and Will Venable went down swinging, but Forsythe lined a 3-2 pitch to left-center field.
After intentionally walking Yasmani Grandal, Trammell removed Cahill in favor of Will Harris, who struck out Stults.
Stults retired 16 of his final 17 batters. Willie Bloomquist singled with one out in the ninth, but Paul Goldschmidt flied out to right and Ross grounded into a force play.
Game Notes
The Padres won on a night the team celebrated their 1998 NL championship. A total of 17 players and two coaches took part in a pregame ceremony ... The Padres reinstated reliever Huston Street from the 15-day disabled list and optioned pitcher Tommy Layne and outfielder Jaff Decker to Triple-A Tucson ... San Diego acquired infielder Pedro Ciriaco from the Boston Red Sox ... Cahill threw 117 pitches, 13 more than Stults ... Gibson received a one-game suspension and Arizona pitcher Ian Kennedy got a 10-game penalty. Diamondbacks infielder Eric Hinske received a five-game suspension.
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