Padres play small ball to get past Giants in extra innings

The San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants played nine innings and were unable to determine a winner in their series-opening contest at Oracle Park, Monday.

The two teams headed to extra innings and the Padres played small ball to bring in the first run of the game in the top of the 10th. The inning started with Jake Cronenworth on second base. Tyler Wade executed a sacrifice bunt and moved Cronenworth to third. With one out, Jose Iglesias hit a sacrifice fly ball to left-center field that allowed Cronenworth to score to give San Diego a 1-0 lead. Martin Maldonado would ground out to end the inning.

Robert Suarez, who recorded three outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, returned to the mound in the bottom of the 10th. The Giants played the inning much like the Padres.

Jung Hoo Lee started the inning on second base for San Francisco and a sacrifice bunt moved him to third. With one out, Matt Chapman lined a ground ball at Jose Iglesias. He snared the ball, checked Lee at third base and threw to first to get the second out of the inning.

The final batter of the inning, and the game, came in the form of Jerar Encarnacion. He hit a line drive right at Luis Arraez at first base. Arraez secured the catch and the game with the Padres beating the Giants, 1-0.

San Diego starter Stephen Kolek matched veteran San Francisco starter Logan Webb pitch for pitch. Both pitchers worked in and out of trouble with Kolek receiving multiple noteworthy plays from his defense.

Kolek allowed just three hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings with three strikeouts and two walks. The Padres bullpen covered the remaining 4 1/3 innings with Suarez taking the final two innings. He allowed one hit and recorded one strikeout against Lee to end the bottom of the ninth inning en route to the win.

San Diego continues its series in San Francisco, Tuesday at 6:45 p.m.