Down 4-0, Diamondbacks rally for 5-4 win in 10 innings

Diamondbacks edge Padres in 10

TUCSON, Ariz. — Right-hander Ian Kennedy is making a strong case to join the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rotation.

Kennedy struck out eight in five scoreless innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks earned a 5-4 win in 10 innings over the San Diego Padres on Monday.

Down 4-0 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Diamondbacks tied the game with two-run homers by John Hester and Drew Macias. Arizona’s Jake Wald drove in the winning run on a single in the 10th.

Kennedy lowered his ERA to 2.70. He allowed two hits — a two-out double by Will Venable in the first inning, and a single by Chris Denorfia in the third inning. Kennedy then picked off Denorfia at first.

“I really don’t go out for strikeouts from the get-go,” said Kennedy, who could follow Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson in the rotation. “If they come, that’s awesome. (Catcher Chris) Snyder called a great game. We worked really well together.”

Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said Kennedy threw one of the best outings of the spring by a Diamondbacks starter.

“Excellent. Ian was really, really good. He had good rhythm. He had good command,” Hinch said. “He had swing-and-miss pitches.”

Kennedy bounced back from his previous outing, when he allowed four runs and seven hits and struck out none in 3 1-3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels.

“The outing in Tempe I kind of took it as just a bad day,” Kennedy said. “The next day I kind of just moved on. In my bullpens, I really wanted to work hard for this start, and I was happy with how those went. I worked on my fastball command.”

Padres left-hander Clayton Richard threw six shutout innings, striking out three and walking two.

Entering the game, Richard had thrown 6 2-3 innings this spring.

He was slated to pitch five innings, but he kept pitching because his pitch count was low. He said he felt good throughout the outing.

“It’s great this point of spring training to get the six-inning mark,” Richard said. “Every time you pass an inning, it’s kind of exciting.

“It’s what you’re looking forward to in the spring, getting more and more innings.”

The Padres backed him with five double plays.

“The defense played great behind me, got them some opportunities keeping the ball down,” Richard said. “They definitely made the most of it.”

Notes: Hinch said the Diamondbacks will likely begin the season with four starting pitchers, as Brandon Webb is expected to miss the start of the season. He has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game. Arizona is allowing Webb to build his arm strength through long toss. No date is set for his next bullpen. … The Diamondbacks are off today. … Arizona reassigned outfielder Evan Frey, catcher Carlos Corporan and infielder Ed Rogers to minor-league camp. … Tony Abreu collided with Padres first baseman Matt Stairs in the fourth after Abreu hit a grounder. Abreu reached on an error and stayed in the game.