Padres hit 3 HRs in the 9th inning for a 5-0 win over the D-backs, who lose ground in playoff race
By DAVID BRANDT
Posted 9/28/24
Kyle Higashioka, Brandon Lockridge and Donovan Solano homered in the ninth inning, lifting the San Diego Padres to a 5-0 win over the sliding Arizona Diamondbacks, who continued to lose ground in the …
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Register to comment
Click here create a free account for posting comments.
Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
I am anchor
Padres hit 3 HRs in the 9th inning for a 5-0 win over the D-backs, who lose ground in playoff race
San Diego Padres pitcher Randy Vasquez throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning during a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Posted
By DAVID BRANDT
PHOENIX (AP) — Kyle Higashioka, Brandon Lockridge and Donovan Solano homered in the ninth inning, lifting the San Diego Padres to a 5-0 win on Saturday night over the sliding Arizona Diamondbacks, who continued to lose ground in the National League playoff race.
The Diamondbacks (88-73) have lost five of six as they chase an NL wild card. They’re currently behind the Braves (88-71) and Mets (87-72), who hold the final two playoff spots.
The game was scoreless heading into the ninth. With one out, David Peralta singled up the middle and then Higashioka cranked a no-doubt, two-run homer deep into the left field stands.
Lockridge followed with his first big league homer, which was also hit to left.
It was a stunning blowup for Diamondbacks left-hander A.J. Puk (4-9), who has been the team's most dominant reliever since he was acquired from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline. He had given up just one run over 27 innings over his 29 outings since coming to Arizona.
Solano added a two-run homer, his fourth hit of the night, later in the ninth off Scott McGough for a 5-0 advantage.
Arizona has the highest-scoring offense in the big leagues this season but finished with just two hits. San Diego right-hander Randy Vásquez took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Corbin Carroll laced a double to right field.
The 25-year-old Vásquez — who had just been recalled from Triple-A El Paso — was making his first start in the big leagues since Aug. 31. He finished with six scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out four.
The Padres rested several regulars 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 Tuesday.
San Diego's Luis Arraez (.314) got 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 in the post-1900 era.
Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodriguez started with 4 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out three.
San Diego's Wandy Peralta (3-2) threw a scoreless eighth to earn the win.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: Manager Mike Shildt told reporters that INF Ha-Seong Kim will not return this season because of a shoulder injury. He hit .233 with 11 homers and 22 stolen bases over 122 games.
UP NEXT
The teams wrap up the regular season on Sunday. The Padres will start LHP Martín Pérez (5-5, 4.25 ERA) while the Diamondbacks haven't announced a starter.
!role~Preview!mt~photo!fmt~JPEG%20Baseline)
