The Arizona Diamondbacks get swept at Chase Field by the surging San Diego Padres. The Padres came into Chase Field after sweeping the Pirates on the road, and have now won seven straight games. The Diamondbacks, after winning four straight games on the road, have gone 2-5 in their ten-game home stand, with three games remaining against the Cincinnati Reds.
Starter Trevor Cahill could only get through three and two-thirds innings before being pulled from the game by Manager Kirk Gibson. Although he struck out six in his short stint, Cahill also walked three, while giving up four runs off of eight hits.
Cahill had difficulty closing out innings. After getting the first two outs of the game, Cahill ended up giving up two runs in the first inning. Again in the third inning, Cahill got the first two outs, then gave up the go-ahead run when Mark Kotsay singled in Yasmani Grandal, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. Grandal ended up scoring twice in the game, as he went 1 for 2, with two walks, in addition to being hit by a pitch. Cahill was pulled in the fourth inning, after giving up another run, and walking Grandal to load the bases. Cahill has been looking to secure his 50th career win in each of his last five outings.
Edinson Volquez settled down for the Padres after giving up two runs in the bottom of the first inning that tied the score. He threw seven innings, striking out seven, walking two, and hitting a batter. Volquez allowed only the two runs in the first inning, giving up four hits on the day.
The Padres scored an insurance run in the seventh inning when Alexi Amarista doubled to right field, scoring Yasmani Grandal, who was walked for the second time in the game.
Down 5-2, the Diamondbacks rallied in the eighth when Gerardo Parra led off with a single to center field. That was followed by a home run to left center by Aaron Hill, his 20th of the season, cutting the lead to 5-4. Miguel Montero arrived safely at first, thanks to a throwing error by pitcher Tommy Lane, keeping the inning alive. Chris Young, who was 2 for 4 in the game, made things interesting when he doubled to left field, advancing Montero to third. Chris Johnson ended up striking out for the third time in the game to end the inning, ending the Diamondbacks attempt at a late-inning comeback.
The Padres end up sweeping the Diamondbacks 3-0. With the loss, the Diamondbacks are 64-64, and slowly losing ground in the National League playoff race.