Segura's homer lifts Lopez, Brewers to 4-3 win over Padres

SAN DIEGO (AP) Minutes after winning his major league debut, Jorge Lopez posed for a photo with a game ball and the lineup card.

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell is confident there are going to many more victories for the 22-year-old right-hander.

''It was fun. He did a nice job,'' Counsell said after Jean Segura's two-run home run in the sixth inning lifted Lopez and the Brewers to a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night. ''It's going to work. It's a great fastball. Real downhill action. He made a mistake with a couple of offspeed pitches to their good hitters, (Matt) Kemp and (Justin) Upton that hurt him a little bit, but he did a nice job.''

So Counsell has that good of a feel after just one game?

''Yeah, I think you can feel it with this guy,'' he said. ''I think it was a great first outing. He learned something from it for sure and he picked up a win because of Siggy's homer.''

Lopez (1-0) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings, struck out seven and walked two. Lopez's contract was selected a week earlier from Double-A Biloxi, where he went 12-5 with a 2.26 ERA in 24 starts. He was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Year and the Brewers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

''It's been great,'' Lopez said. ''It was amazing. I was excited at first. I was like, `Here I am.' I was thinking, `Let's go and pound and attack the zone.'''

The Brewers trailed 3-2 going into the sixth. Khris Davis singled to left and Segura hit a one-out homer off Tyson Ross (10-12) into the balcony on the third level of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left-field corner. It was the sixth homer for Segura, who also hit an RBI double in the first.

''That's amazing. I like to win games, compete. I was happy. It was amazing for me. I'll take that win,'' Lopez said.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his 38th save in 40 chances.

San Diego's Matt Kemp, the centerpiece of an offseason roster redo that failed to produce a winning team, reached 100 RBIs for the first time in five seasons.

Kemp singled in Yangervis Solarte in third inning, giving him 100 RBIs. Acquired from the NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers in December, Kemp hadn't driven in that many runs since 2011, when he had a career-high 126.

Kemp later left the game with a sore right hand.

''The other day when I was swinging it started irritating me,'' Kemp said. ''Every time I swing I feel a little pain. I wanted to go on. I'd rather have 80 RBIs and go to the playoffs.''

The Padres opened their final home series. They failed to meet preseason expectations after a big roster overhaul and will finish with their fifth straight losing season.

The Brewers jumped on Ross for a 2-0 lead in the first, on an RBI single by Adam Lind and Segura's run-scoring double.

Kemp drove in San Diego's first run in the third, and the Padres went ahead in the fourth on RBI singles by Ross and Wil Myers in the fourth.

Ross, making his final start of the season, allowed four runs and six hits in six innings, struck out seven and walked three.

''I didn't have a good rhythm early,'' Ross said. ''It's hard to find your tempo with runners on base.''

UP NEXT

Brewers: RHP Zach Davies (2-2, 4.67 ERA) is scheduled to start the middle game of the series.

Padres: RHP Andrew Cashner (6-15, 4.21 ERA) is scheduled to make his final start of the season.