Tony Gwynn, Kyle Blanks each drive in 3 runs to help Padres beat Royals 16-14

Gwynn, Blanks help Padres outslug Royals 16-14

SURPRISE, Ariz. — San Diego left-hander Clayton Richard spent more time in the dugout watching the Padres score than on the mound.

The Padres put together three five-run innings as they outslugged the Kansas City Royals 16-14 on Wednesday. Tony Gwynn and Lance Blanks each drove in three runs for the Padres.

The game included 31 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, 11 walks, a wild pitch, five errors, a passed ball and 12 unearned runs — and lasted three hours and 27 minutes. The Padres led 16-4 entering the seventh, but the Royals scored 10 unanswered runs to make it interesting.

“I don’t like the result,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said. “I was proud the way we came back.”

Richard watched San Diego score five runs in the second and five in the fourth. In both innings, the Padres sent 10 men to the plate.

“You wish there was a way for your team to score a lot of runs and do it quick,” Richard said. “I’ve been thinking of that for a long time on how to make that happen. You love to see the offense do well, but it’s tough to sit for so long and go back out there. But you’d definitely rather have that than your team not scoring runs.”

While Richard was credited with the victory, he permitted four runs, three earned, on four hits and a walk in 3 2-3 innings.

“Even when I was missing with my pitches, I was missing where I wanted,” Richard said. “I think it was definitely a positive outing. I know the stats don’t really relay that message. I was definitely around the strike zone more. I felt my command was a little bit better. There were just a few balls hit hard. That’s the way baseball is.”

Luke Hochevar gave up five unearned runs in the second inning, which included an Alberto Callaspo error. Hochevar also walked four, including Everth Cabrera with the bases loaded. Gwynn cleared them with a three-run double and scored on a Jerry Hairston Jr. double.

“Walks always come back to bite you,” Hochevar said. “The only pitch I was disappointed in was the first pitch to Tony Gwynn, the double. With that pitch, I’m trying to be finer in that situation and make a very quality pitch, especially with the bases loaded. I didn’t make that pitch. That was the at-bat I was most upset with.”

Callaspo went 3 for 3 to raise his average to .448, while Billy Butler drove in three runs for Kansas City.