Padres’ furious rally comes up short in 7-6 loss to D-backs

Heading into last night’s contest, the Padres needed some juice. After back-to-back-to-back outings where the offense sputtered, San Diego needed a reminder that they have the ability to put up points on a moment’s notice. Unfortunately, that shot to the arm came just a bit too late in their 7-6 loss to the Diamondbacks on Saturday evening.

Following a two-out single by Greg Garcia in the bottom of the ninth, Jurickson Profar stepped up to the plate with rookie Jorge Mateo - who replaced Garcia - on first. With a 2-1 count, Profar hit a single over the top of second base that had enough distance to force Profar to get waved home. With the tying run on his shoulders, Mateo turned the boosters on as he rounded third but just couldn’t outrun the throw to home and the tag by C Carson Kelly.

SS Fernando Tatis Jr. got back to his old ways with an opening-inning home run - his league-leading ninth on the year - as the team’s DH. He finished with a huge night, going 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs, three runs scored, and the home run.

Cal Quantrill, one of the team’s best relievers, got the start last night in a five-man effort by the bullpen. In a little over three innings, Quantrill allowed five hits, one run, and five strikeouts. After he was pulled for Matt Strahm, the D-backs recorded another nine hits, methodically getting moving their guys around the bases while building a 7-1 lead heading into the eighth inning.

Eric Hosmer, who also seemed to be rounding back into form, smacked a two-run shot out through right field to bring Tatis home and inch their deficit to 7-3. After holding Arizona to no damage in the eighth, the comeback continued with another hit by Tatis, this one a ground double, which brought home both Manny Machado and Edward Olivares. Greg Garcia recorded his first hit of the night and all of a sudden the Padres were down by just a score. Unfortunately we already know what happens next.

It was a heck of an effort, and even a losing effort was better than seeing another outing like the prior three contests.

Both Tommy Pham (calf tightness) and Wil Myers (back tightness) exited the game due to injuries, so that is something else to monitor for the near future.

Carson Kelly led the Diamondbacks offensively with three hits and two RBIs. LF David Peralta finished 3-of-5 at the plate with a run scored.

Starting pitcher Alex Young worked 4.1 innings for Arizona, allowing four hits, one run, and 5 Ks.

The Padres (11-11) are now just a half game ahead of the the D-backs (10-11) with game three in the series scheduled for 1:10pm this afternoon. Garrett Richards (1-1) is your guy on the mound for San Diego while Robbie Ray gets the nod for Arizona (1-2).