Mejia homers as Padres beat Cubs 5-1 to avoid sweep
CHICAGO (AP) - Francisco Mejía homered, Fernando Tatis Jr. drove in three runs and the San Diego Padres avoided the sweep, beating the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Sunday.
Mejía and Tatis had two hits apiece for the Padres, who scored three runs in the ninth and have won just two of their last nine.
Kyle Hendricks allowed two runs in seven innings and Anthony Rizzo had two hits for the NL Central-leading Cubs, who are 7-2 after the All-Star break. Cal Quantrill (3-2) threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, retiring 14 of his final 15 batters. He struck out six and walked none.
Quantrill took over for Adrian Morejon, who allowed one run and three hits in 2 1/3 innings as the opener in his major league debut. Morejon, 20, is the second-youngest pitcher to debut with the Padres. The left-hander went 0-4 with a 4.25 ERA in 16 starts at Double-A Amarillo before his call-up.
Kirby Yates struck out three in the ninth to work around a Rizzo single.
Pinch hitter Greg Garcia was hit by a pitch from Carl Edwards Jr. to bring in a run in the ninth after Kyle Ryan allowed a walk and a bunt single. Tatis followed with a two-run single. Edwards was making his first appearance since June 9 after spending time on the IL for a thoracic strain.
Hendricks (7-8) gave up four hits in his longest start since he came off the IL July 2. His home ERA increased to 1.89.
Javier Baez singled, advanced to third on Kris Bryant's blooper near the right-field line and scored on Rizzo's groundout to give the Cubs the lead in the first.
The Padres tied the game in the fifth when Luis Urías drew a walk, advanced on a sacrifice and scored on Tatis' single.
Mejía hit his fourth home run on a full count against Hendricks to lead off the seventh and put the Padres ahead 2-1.
The Padres were hitless until Eric Hosmer got on base in the fourth after sliding headfirst on a grounder to second. The Padres haven't been swept at Wrigley Field since May 2012.
WEATHER UPDATE
After the heat climbed into the 90s Saturday, the first-pitch temperature was 72 Sunday. Rain delayed the start of the game 32 minutes.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: The contracts of RHP Michel Baez and Morejon were selected from Double-A Amarillo. OF Josh Naylor and RHP Trey Wingenter were optioned to Triple-A El Paso. To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Adam Warren (right forearm strain) was transferred to the 60-day IL and RHP Miguel Diaz (left knee surgery) was recalled from Triple-A and transferred to the 60-day IL.
Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said LHP Cole Hamels (left oblique strain) was doing well after he threw a bullpen session Saturday for the first time since going on the IL June 29. The team is discussing the next step for Hamels. ... C Willson Contreras (right foot strain) will possibly be activated Wednesday, when he is eligible to come off the IL, Maddon said.
UP NEXT
Padres: A starter has yet to be announced for Tuesday's series opener against the Mets and LHP Jason Vargas (4-5, 4.25 ERA).
Cubs: RHP Alex Mills (0-0, 4.50) starts Monday at San Francisco against the Giants and RHP Shaun Anderson (3-2, 4.87) in the opener of a three-game series. Mills allowed three runs in six innings in his season debut Tuesday.