Nothing Like the First Time: Murphy Wins First Game With Padres
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Pat Murphy didn’t have much time to ponder his first win as the San Diego Padres manager before he was grabbed by players, carried into the shower and doused with a combination of beer, champagne and baby powder.
“I thought I was having a heart attack, I’m not joking,” Murphy said following Thursday’s 3-1 win over the Oakland Athletics. “The thought went through my head, ‘Isn’t this beautiful? You get your first major league win and you have a heart attack in the shower during the celebration.’ That’s truly what I was thinking.”
Murphy was in much better spirits afterward, and for good reason.
San Diego ended a four-game losing streak with solid starting pitching and home runs by Matt Kemp and former A’s catcher Derek Norris. That was big for a ballclub just a few days removed from the firing of manager Bud Black on Monday.
“It’s a little silly to make it about me today,” said Murphy, who was hired Tuesday. “It was kind of a must-win, but you still have to let the game flow. If you try to force it, a lot of bad stuff can happen.”
Norris homered against his former team, and Kemp hit his second home run in three days.
Ian Kennedy (4-5) gave up one run and four hits in six innings, allowing only one runner past second base. Kennedy, who struck out Stephen Vogt with the potential tying run at the third in the sixth, has a 2.63 ERA in his last four starts after compiling a 7.15 ERA in his first eight.
“I was glad to be the guy. I’ve faced him so many times in college, at least I was that guy to be on the mound that day,” said Kennedy, whose Southern Cal teams faced Murphy’s Arizona State squads. “I wanted to pitch well for him, and partially for the team, too. We needed that one.”
Craig Kimbrel pitched a one-hit ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances, completing a five-hitter.
Kemp homered in the fourth and Norris doubled the lead when he homered leading off the sixth. He had been hitless in six at-bats at the Coliseum since he was traded to San Diego in December.
-Associated Press
