Padres battle, fall short in loss to Rangers

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The San Diego Padres found another way to lose at Petco Park.

Jason Marquis had 10 strikeouts and the Padres held Texas to five hits, but the Rangers won 2-1 on Monday night.

Left-hander Matt Harrison won his fifth straight decision and David Murphy's two-run single in the first inning held up as the Rangers won their fourth straight game.

Marquis (1-2) took the loss despite a terrific outing. Marquis allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings, struck out 10 and walked three. It was the first 10-strikeout game by a Padres pitcher this year. He got his 1,000th career strikeout when he fanned Ian Kinsler in the second inning.

"He was magnificent," third baseman Chase Headley said. "It would have been nice to get him a win."

Harrison (9-3) tied CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova of the New York Yankees for the AL lead in victories. Harrison allowed one run and six hits in six innings, struck out four and walked two.

Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton didn't start but played left field as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. Hamilton was released from a hospital Saturday after becoming dehydrated because of an intestinal virus. Manager Ron Washington said he expects Hamilton to start Tuesday night.

Harrison escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. He allowed consecutive singles opening the inning and a two-out walk before retiring pinch-hitter Yonder Alonso on a grounder. Harrison barehanded the throw from first baseman Michael Young.

Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 15 chances. He allowed consecutive two-out singles before getting Headley to ground out. Headley had three hits.

Murphy hit a bases-loaded single to center to bring in two runs in the first. Elvis Andrus singled with one out and Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz drew consecutive two-out walks.

San Diego had three straight hits to open the bottom of the first, including Headley's RBI double off the fence in center field. It might have brought in two runs but Chris Denorfia held up between second and third to see if the ball would be caught. The ball sailed over Leonys Martin's head. By then Cameron Maybin had come all the way around second and had to slow down. Denorfia scored and Maybin stopped at third.

"I knew when I hit it, it wasn't going to be long gone," Headley said. I thought it would probably be off the wall. I was running as hard as I could, and there were a couple of guys there. I was yelling, `Go.' Second and third there, no outs, with the guys we have coming up, you take your chances."

Carlos Quentin hit a fly to center that was too shallow to bring in Maybin, who was stranded after Jesus Guzman struck out and Everth Cabrera grounded out.

NOTES: Washington said Hamilton took early batting practice and got in a full workout. ... Seven of Harrison's wins have come on the road. ... It was Marquis' second double-digit strikeout game. He fanned 13 at Milwaukee on Aug. 3, 2001. ... The Padres are 4-19 against lefties. ... The Padres agreed to terms with RHP Zach Eflin of Hagerty (Fla.) H.S., the club's first selection in the compensation round, and 33rd overall. ... The series continues Tuesday night when Texas' Scott Feldman (0-6, 6.50) is scheduled to oppose San Diego's Edinson Volquez (3-6, 3.70).

Tags:    MLB, texas rangers, San Diego Padres

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