The game was decided in one explosive inning. Chicago scored six runs in the second to break open what became an 8-2 victory over San Diego at Petco Park, extending their winning streak to three games.
Munetaka Murakami delivered the decisive blow with a three-run homer to right center, capping the six-run outburst. The slugger went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and two walks, raising his season totals to 13 home runs and 26 RBIs. Colson Montgomery added a solo homer in the fifth and finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
The second-inning avalanche began when Montgomery scored on an Antonacci single to right. Meidroth scored on Hays' fielder's choice grounder, then Hays crossed the plate on Benintendi's sacrifice fly to center. Murakami's 413-foot blast brought home Peters and Romo to complete the damage.
German Marquez absorbed the loss for San Diego, allowing seven runs on five hits over five innings with five walks. His ERA now stands at 5.76. The Padres managed only token resistance in the eighth when Johnson scored on Andujar's infield single and Fernando Tatis scored on Machado's single to left.
Chicago improved to 14-17 while San Diego fell to 19-11, dropping their second straight game.