Rene Rivera hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth inning in his return from a long stay on the disabled list, and the Los Angeles Angels completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres with a 3-2 victory Wednesday night.
Reinstated from the 60-day DL before the game, Rivera connected for a solo shot into the second deck in left field against San Diego closer Kirby Yates (4-1). The former Padres catcher had missed 76 games with right knee inflammation.
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Rene Rivera hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth inning in his return from a long stay on the disabled list, and the Los Angeles Angels completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres with a 3-2 victory Wednesday night.
Blake Parker retired the side in the ninth for his 12th save.
Both teams scored in the first inning. Albert Pujols drove in Kole Calhoun, who led off the game with a single, with a sacrifice fly against Padres lefty Robbie Erlin.
Erlin and Pena traded scoreless innings until the sixth, when Simmons broke through for Los Angeles.
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San Diego Padres third baseman Wil Myers, right, overthrows first base as Los Angeles Angels' David Fletcher, left, arrives with a single at first during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
Los Angeles Angels shortstop David Fletcher, center, reaches for the throw as San Diego Padres' Wil Myers, right, steals second base during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Robbie Erlin works against a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
Fans record Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, as he waits on deck to bat during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
Jose Alvarez (5-3) pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win for the Angels, their seventh in nine games. The sweep was Los Angeles' sixth of the season.
Los Angeles Angels' Rene Rivera watches his home run during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres in a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
Blake Parker retired the side in the ninth for his 12th save.
Cory Spangenberg erased an Angels lead in the seventh with a solo home run that tied the game at 2.
Andrelton Simmons singled home David Fletcher in the sixth to put Los Angeles in front 2-1.
Los Angeles Angels catcher Rene Rivera, left, celebrates with relief pitcher Blake Parker after the Angeles defeated the San Diego Padres 3-2 in a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
Both teams scored in the first inning. Albert Pujols drove in Kole Calhoun, who led off the game with a single, with a sacrifice fly against Padres lefty Robbie Erlin.
San Diego answered with a sacrifice fly from Hunter Renfroe that brought home Travis Jankowski.
Felix Pena pitched six solid innings for the Angels, allowing one unearned run on two hits while walking four and striking out seven.
Los Angeles Angels' Rene Rivera, right, is greeted by third base coach Dino Ebel after hitting a home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
Erlin and Pena traded scoreless innings until the sixth, when Simmons broke through for Los Angeles.
Shohei Ohtani pinch-hit in the ninth and struck out swinging against Yates.
ROSTER MOVES
The Angels optioned RHP Odrisamer Despaigne and C Jose Briceno to Triple-A Salt Lake, and designated RHP Akeel Morris for assignment.
San Diego Padres' Cory Spangenberg watches his home run next to Los Angeles Angels catcher Rene Rivera during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
UP NEXT
Angels: Open a four-game series in Texas on Thursday. The club had not yet announced a starting pitcher. RHP Ariel Jurado (2-2, 5.66 ERA) will take the mound for the Rangers.
Padres: RHP Jacob Nix (1-0) makes his second start in the majors Thursday against Arizona, looking to follow up a debut in which he threw six scoreless innings. RHP Clay Buchholz (5-2, 2.67) will oppose Nix for the Diamondbacks.
Los Angeles Angels' Andrelton Simmons hits an RBI-single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Felix Pena works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
San Diego Padres third baseman Wil Myers, right, overthrows first base as Los Angeles Angels' David Fletcher, left, arrives with a single at first during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
Los Angeles Angels shortstop David Fletcher, center, reaches for the throw as San Diego Padres' Wil Myers, right, steals second base during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Robbie Erlin works against a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)
Fans record Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, as he waits on deck to bat during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in San Diego. (AP PhotoGregory Bull)