Padres interim manager Pat Murphy went to the mound to make a pitching change in the bottom of the eighth, replacing Joaquin Benoit with Kimbrel, giving him a four-out save opportunity with two out and a runner on second.
Murphy told Kimbrel before leaving the mound in no uncertain terms that he was going to hit. Kimbrel didn't realize it at the time, but the pitcher's spot was due up third in the ninth inning.
"I was kind of caught off guard," Kimbrel said. "I didn't realize it. I didn't know if I was up fourth or whatever.