Reed Plays Hero This Time as Padres Win in Last At-Bat

Jody Reed singled home the winning run with two outs in the 12th inning Saturday and the San Diego Padres defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2, at San Diego.

With two down and the bases empty, Greg Vaughn drew a walk from Lee Smith (3-4) and stole second.

Wally Joyner was intentionally walked before Reed, who was hitting only .230 and entered the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the inning, slapped a 2-and-2 pitch just in front of right fielder Thomas Howard. Vaughn beat the throw to the plate, sliding in head first.

Dario Veras (2-0) pitched a perfect 12th for the victory.

It was the fourth time in the last five games the Padres have won in their final at-bat. It was their second victory in 11 games against Cincinnati this season.

The Padres threatened twice in extra innings. They loaded the bases with one out in the 10th, but Vaughn struck out and Joyner grounded out. In the 11th, with runners on first and third, Chris Gomez grounded out.

The Padres gave Fernando Valenzuela a 2-0 lead, but he lost it by giving up Chad Mottola’s two-run homer with one out in the fifth. Mottola had only one hit in his previous 15 at-bats.

Red starter Dave Burba gave up two runs on five hits in six innings, struck out three and walked three.