CHICAGO (AP) – Francisco Mejia homered, Fernando Tatis Jr. drove in three runs and the San Diego Padres avoided the sweep, beating the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Sunday.
Mejia and Tatis had two hits apiece for the Padres, who scored three runs in the ninth and have won just two of their last nine.
Kyle Hendricks allowed two runs in seven innings and Anthony Rizzo had two hits for the NL Central-leading Cubs, who are 7-2 after the All-Star break. Cal Quantrill (3-2) threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, retiring 14 of his final 15 batters. He struck out six and walked none.
Quantrill took over for Adrian Morejon, who allowed one run and three hits in 2 1/3 innings as the opener in his major league debut. Morejon, 20, is the second-youngest pitcher to debut with the Padres. The left-hander went 0-4 with a 4.25 ERA in 16 starts at Double-A Amarillo before his call-up.
Kirby Yates struck out three in the ninth to work around a Rizzo single.
Pinch hitter Greg Garcia was hit by a pitch from Carl Edwards Jr. to bring in a run in the ninth after Kyle Ryan allowed a walk and a bunt single. Tatis followed with a two-run single. Edwards was making his first appearance since June 9 after spending time on the IL for a thoracic strain.
Hendricks (7-8) gave up four hits in his longest start since he came off the IL July 2. His home ERA increased to 1.89.
Javier Baez singled, advanced to third on Kris Bryant’s blooper near the right-field line and scored on Rizzo’s groundout to give the Cubs the lead in the first.
The Padres tied the game in the fifth when Luis Urias drew a walk, advanced on a sacrifice and scored on Tatis’ single.
Mejia hit his fourth home run on a full count against Hendricks to lead off the seventh and put the Padres ahead 2-1.
The Padres were hitless until Eric Hosmer got on base in the fourth after sliding headfirst on a grounder to second. The Padres haven’t been swept at Wrigley Field since May 2012.
