Padres fizzle in 5-1 loss to Diamondbacks

In the team’s 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks on Monday night, it seemed as if the Padres were still recovering from the marathon that was their latest four-game series against the Dodgers.

In the bottom of the second, the usually sure-handed Trent Grisham misjudged a fly ball — or rather, misjudged his ability to make the play — which allowed a pair of D-Backs to jog into home for an early 2-0 lead. The play should have been made by Jurickson Profar who was coming over from left, but Grisham seemingly told Profar to hold off and it apparently didn’t register until the two were almost feet from each other.

Altogether, a two-run deficit in the second doesn’t seem all that bad. However, I believe the play just weighed heavy on the team’s shoulders for the remainder of the night.

In the top of the sixth, Fernando Tatis Jr. was escorted home for the team’s lone run of the night by a grounder from Manny Machado. With the Padres down just one run heading into the bottom of the sixth, momentum seemed to be shifting their way.

Then Chris Paddack’s struggles reared their ugly heads.

Through the first five inning, Paddack struck out just as many and allowed four total hits. To begin the inning, Paddack allowed a single by right fielder Kole Calhoun and then got third baseman Asrubal Cabrera to strike out swinging before the wheels started coming off. On a wild curve, Josh Rojas — who ran for Calhoun — stole second. Two pitches later, he stole third. Left fielder David Peralta then laced a single to left field which drove Rojas home for the score. Then, on the third pitch to catcher Carson Kelly, he sent one 438 feet to left field for a two-run deep shot to put the game out of reach.

The D-Backs also got a solid outing out of starting pitcher Merrill Kelly who finished with 5 k’s and four hits allowed with one earned run.

The Padres will be back in Arizona for another 6:40 p.m. start time. Ryan Weathers will make his third major-league start against righty Taylor Widener.