Rangers defeat the San Diego Padres 8-4

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego, CA- The  San Diego Padres fell to the Texas Rangers 8-4 Thursday afternoon in game number 8 of cactus league play.

The Padres fall to (2-5-1) on the spring.

Padres Ian Kennedy was solid in his second start of the spring today, allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out two in three innings of work. Kennedy struggled to begin the game, allowing both of his runs on the day on an RBI single by Prince Fielder and with former Padre Kevin Kouzmanoff batting, Kennedy balked allowing Elvis Andrus scores to score from third.

The Padres would cut the Rangers lead in half to 2-1 in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Rene Rivera.

Padres Pitching Prospect Jesse Hahn would relive Kennedy in the fourth and allow no runs on one hit, while striking out one in one inning of work.

Padres reliever Joaquin Benoit would pitch a scoreless fifth, striking out two in his one inning of work.

With the Padres trailing 2-1, the game would get away from the Padres in the 6th, as reliever Alex Torres struggled in his Padres and spring debut, allowing five runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out two in 0.2 inning of work.

The Padres would attempt to comeback in the bottom of the ninth, as Tommy Medica continued his hit start this spring, hitting a three-run HomeRun to left field, his second of the spring to cut the Rangers lead in half to 8-4. Unfortunately that’s as close as the Padres, as they fell to the Texas Rangers 8-4.