Diamondbacks 6, Padres 5
PHOENIX, Sep. 28 – Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker homered twice, driving in five of their six runs as they rallied to defeat the San Diego Padres, 6-5, on Saturday evening at Chase Field. The second home run was his first career grand slam, capping a five-run bottom of the seventh.
Diamondbacks Strike First, but Padres Open Big Lead
The first inning saw only one hit, that being a one-out triple by Padres left fielder Wil Myers. In the top of the second, the Padres started things off with consecutive singles by second baseman Ty France and shortstop Luis Urias, but neither scored. Catcher Austin Hedges struck out, and, after starting pitcher Garrett Richards bunted the runner over, center fielder Manuel Margot also struck out. The Diamondbacks got on the board in the bottom of second on Walker’s solo homer.
In the top of the third, the Padres pulled ahead thanks to a leadoff walk by Myers, who was on base when third baseman Manny Machado hit a two-run homer two batters later. Urias added a solo shot in the fourth, making the score 3-1. It became 4-1 in the top of the sixth when France hit a one-out double and scored on a single by Urias.
The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, did not get their second hit until the third baseman Jake Lamb hit a one-out double in the bottom of the sixth. They found themselves in a deeper hole when Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer hit a solo homer to the right field bleachers in the top of the seventh, making the score 5-1 as the fans sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
Diamondbacks Plate Five, Hold on for Victory
Everything changed in the bottom of the seventh. David Bednar had come in from the bullpen for the Padres, and with one out, trouble began as catcher Alex Avila drew a walk. A single by pinch hitter Domingo Leyba brought up Jarrod Dyson with runners on first and second. His double into the left field corner plated Avila and advanced Leyba to third, and when left fielder Josh Rojas followed with a walk, that loaded the bases for the ever-dangerous Eduardo Escobar.
When Escobar hit a liner toward short, the fans briefly grew excited. However, they let out sighs of disappointment when Urias gloved it for the second out. That brought up Walker. On the third pitch, he ripped a deep drive to the bleachers in left center field for a grand slam. It gave the Diamondbacks a 6-5 lead – their first of the game. The Padres got the tying run on base in the top of the ninth with a two-out pinch-hit double by Francisco Mejia, but it went for naught as Myers followed with a game-ending fly to center.
Reliever Jimmie Sherfy (1-0) earned the win in relief. Bednar (0-2) took the loss, while Kevin Ginkel pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season. The Diamondbacks (84-77) and Padres (70-91) end their season Sunday afternoon against one another. Michel Baez (1-1, 3.25 ERA) is scheduled to start for the visitors, while Taijuan Walker will make his first start of the season for the home nine.
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