By STEPHEN HAWKINS
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ Shin-Soo Choo extended his career-best on-base streak to 38 games with three hits, including the tiebreaking RBI single in a strange five-run outburst, and the Texas Rangers beat the San Diego Padres 7-4 on Monday night.
Robinson Chirinos drove in runs with both of his hits for Texas, which has won eight of its last nine games.
All five Rangers runs in that decisive sixth inning came after it appeared that Chirinos had struck out for the second out with two runners on base. It looked like catcher Austin Hedges had the ball secured in his mitt that kicked up the dirt when he reached down.
Home plate umpire Tony Randazzo initially indicated Chirinos was out. But that was changed to a foul ball after a discussion among all four umpires, and Chirinos lined an RBI single to left on the next pitch by Craig Stammen (4-1), the third Padres pitcher.
Ronald Guzman then hit a deep flyball misplayed by right fielder Hunter Renfroe. Guzman wound up at second on the error and was credited with a sac fly that got the Rangers within 4-3. Delino DeShields and Choo followed with consecutive RBI singles before Elvis Andrus hit a sac fly.
Chirinos added an RBI double in the seventh.
San Diego (35-46) reached the midpoint of its season by losing for the eighth time in nine games.
Tony Barnette (2-0) retired all three batters he faced after Manuel Margo and Jose Pirela homered off Rangers starter Cole Hamels. Keone Kela worked the nine for his 19th save, the most in the majors without a blown chance.
Margo’s three-run homer in the fifth produced the game’s first runs. Pirela went deep to start the sixth for a 4-1 lead and chase Hamels.
San Diego starter Joey Lucchesi allowed only one hit over four scoreless innings. But the lefty was limited to 70 pitches in only his second start after being out more than a month because of a right-hip strain.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: Manager Andy Green said an MRI on the pitching elbow of RHP Jordan Lyles showed that he does just have inflammation. Lyles was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday after feeling discomfort while warming up. Lyles will rejoin the team in Texas, but won’t start throwing again before the weekend.
Rangers: Guzman was going through MLB concussion protocol after leaving the game in the sixth. His head struck the knee of third baseman Christian Villanueva when diving back on an attempted pickoff by Hedges. … LHP Martin Perez (right elbow) began an injury rehab assignment at Class-A Hickory with nine strikeouts in five scoreless innings against Augusta.
UP NEXT
Padres right-hander Tyson Ross (5-5), who received no run support in his last two starts, faces the team he pitched for last year. Ross was 3-3 with a 7.71 ERA in 12 games in his only season with the Rangers after previously being with San Diego from 2013-16.