Sep 1, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus (1) hits an RBI single during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Elvis Andrus singled in the go-ahead run and then stole home to cap a four-run seventh inning, and Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer to lift the Texas Rangers to an 8-6 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.
The seventh inning started with reliever Marc Rzepczynski (0-1) getting the first two outs before the Rangers broke a 4-all tie on Andrus' bases-loaded single off Sean Kelley. Two more runs scored on catcher Derek Norris' error on the play.
Andrus capped off the inning with a straight steal of home with right-hander Kevin Quackenbush pitching.
Texas remained one game ahead of Minnesota for the final AL wild-card berth.
Matt Kemp homered and drove in four runs for San Diego, and has a major-league best 38 RBIs since the All-Star break.
Ross Ohlendorf (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning.
The Padres loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth against Rangers' closer Shawn Tolleson. He struck out Justin Upton looking before Jed Gyorko had an RBI single and Austin Hedges a sacrifice fly. Tolleson retired Cory Spangenberg on a flyout to end the game.
Fielder hit a 95 mph fastball off Andrew Cashner that skimmed off the top of the center-field wall for his 18th home run.
After Kemp's 17th homer in the fifth put the Padres ahead 4-3, Andrus tied the game in the sixth with a sacrifice fly.
After getting two outs in the seventh, Rzepczynski gave up a single to Fielder and was replaced by Kelley. Adrian Beltre singled Fielder to second and the right-handed Kelley intentionally walked lefty Rougned Odor to load the bases.
Andrus followed with a sharply-hit single to right. Kemp's throw to the plate was in time for Norris, who dove to his left to tag Beltre.
But on the slide, Beltre's foot knocked the ball out of Norris' glove and to the backstop, allowing Odor to also score.
Norris, who was on the ground holding his left wrist, left the game. Kelley threw one warm-up pitch to Norris' replacement, Austin Hedges, then walked off the mound and left the game with an apparent injury.
Quackenbush replaced Kelley, and with a 2-1 count on Will Venable, Andrus took off for home. He was about three-fourths of the way to the plate before Quackenbush delivered the pitch, which was low and away.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: OF Josh Hamilton (left knee inflammation) and C Carlos Corporan (left thumb sprain) were activated from the 15-day DL. Hamilton, who had missed 18 of the previous 24 games, is expected to be restricted to pinch-hitting duty.
Padres: CF Wil Myers (left wrist tendinitis) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Lake Elsinore. Myers has missed 95 games since May 11. . . 1B Yonder Alonso was lifted for a pinch hitter in the third inning after he experienced lower back tightness.
UP NEXT
Rangers: LHP Cole Hamels, makes his sixth start since being acquired in a trade with Philadelphia. Hamels, who grew up the San Diego suburb of Rancho Bernardo, is 9-2 with a 2.15 ERA in 16 starts against the Padres, holding San Diego to a .198 batting average.
Padres: RHP Ian Kennedy has pitched much better in the second half but was inconsistent with his normally solid command in his last start, a 7-1 loss at Philadelphia. The right-hander needed a near-season high 118 pitches to get through 6 2/3 innings as he walked five, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch.
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