"These losses are tough," interim manager Pat Murphy said. "That ball Wallace hits on a different day could go out. The ball that [Matt] Kemp hits has topspin and doesn't get out. Those are game-changers."
The Padres had another big chance in the ninth after Will Venable led off the inning with a single against Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson. Murphy opted to bunt, as Melvin Upton Jr. moved Venable to second with one out.
"We felt like we had a lot left," Murphy said. "If we tied the game, we had more [left] than they did in the 'pen.