Kyle Higashioka, Brandon Lockridge, and Donovan Solano all hit home runs in the ninth inning, helping the San Diego Padres win 5-0 against the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.
This loss means the Diamondbacks continued to fall behind in the National League playoff race.
The Diamondbacks (88-73) have now lost five out of their last six games as they try to secure an NL wild card spot. They are currently behind the Braves (88-71) and the Mets (87-72), who hold the last two playoff positions.
“It was just one of those nights,” said Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker. “They executed well. You’ve got to tip your hat, even if it’s frustrating to say. There are two sides to it. Somebody else is doing their job when they’re getting you out.
“We had some opportunities, but couldn’t execute when it mattered.”
The game was scoreless until the ninth inning. With one out, San Diego’s David Peralta hit a single up the middle, and then Higashioka launched a two-run homer deep into the left-field stands.
“I was just looking for something down the middle, and the slider kind of popped on him,” Higashioka said. “I recognized it early, and luckily this one went over the fence.”
Lockridge followed with his first career big league homer, which also went to left field.
It was a surprising setback for Diamondbacks left-hander A.J. Puk (4-9), who had been the team’s best reliever since joining from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline. He had allowed just one run over 27 innings in his 29 games since coming to Arizona.
“They both hit sliders,” Puk said. “It’s one of those things. They put some good swings on the ball; they’re good hitters. It wasn’t my day today.”
Solano added a two-run homer later in the ninth, marking his fourth hit of the night, to extend the lead to 5-0.
“This game can be awesome, and it can rip your heart out,” said Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo.
Arizona has the highest-scoring offense in the major leagues this season but ended up with just two hits. San Diego right-hander Randy Vásquez carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Corbin Carroll hit a double to right field.
The 25-year-old Vásquez, who had just been called up from Triple-A El Paso, was making his first big league start since August 31. He finished the game with six scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out four batters.
The Padres rested several regular players for Saturday’s game after securing the No. 4 spot in the NL playoff bracket on Friday. San Diego will host a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting on Tuesday.
“Regardless of who we put out there, they’re going to compete and play to win the game,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “It started with Vásquez; he was fantastic.”
San Diego’s Luis Arraez (.314) took the day off as he tries to hold off Shohei Ohtani and Marcell Ozuna for the NL batting title. If he wins, it would be his third batting crown in three years for three different teams, which hasn’t been done since 1900.
Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez started strong with 4 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out three.
San Diego’s Wandy Peralta (3-2) pitched a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win.
