D-backs use big second inning to topple Padres

PHOENIX — A.J. Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt each singled home a pair in a seven-run second inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks went on to beat San Diego 7-2 Sunday, taking two of three from the Padres in the weekend series.

Jeremy Hellickson (5-4) pitched six innings for the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs and six hits. He struck out a season-high seven with no walks.

Arizona manager Chip Hale said Hellickson would have stayed in the game but strained his left oblique while swinging at bat in the sixth. Hellickson said he didn’t think the injury was serious and expected to make his next start.

Two San Diego errors, two walks and a hit batter contributed to Arizona’s big inning. Only three of the seven runs off Andrew Cashner (2-9) were earned.

The Padres fell to 2-5 since manager Bud Black was fired.

Cashner allowed four hits in four innings. He struck out five, walked two and hit Hellickson with a pitch with the bases loaded. Andrew Chafin threw three scoreless innings to earn his first career save.

The Diamondbacks had just one baserunner after their second-inning outburst. The Padres retired the last 17 batters but couldn’t overcome their mistakes in the second.

Cashner struck out Yasmany Tomas to start the inning, then Arizona loaded the bases on two walks and Chris Owings’ single. Nick Ahmed grounded sharply to third, but Will Middlebrooks’ throw home pulled catcher Derek Norris off the plate and the runner was safe. The Padres challenged the call but it was upheld on review.

That brought up Hellickson, who couldn’t get out of the way of a 3-2 pitch that hit him in the left hip, bringing in another run.

Pollock’s single to left scored two more. San Diego’s defensive woes continued when David Peralta’s grounder scooted through the legs of shortstop Clint Barmes for an error. Hellickson scored on the play and it was 5-0.

With first base open, the Padres chose to pitch to Goldschmidt, the major league leader entering the game with a .358 batting average. With the infield in, Goldschmidt’s soft single up the middle brought in two more to make it 7-0 and gave the Arizona first baseman 57 RBIs.

The Diamondbacks have won seven of 10 and are within a game of .500 for the 10th time since they were 8-8 on April 24. They have lost all nine of their attempts to reach .500 since then.

FACING WEST

Arizona is three games into a 16-game stretch against NL West foes. The Diamondbacks have three at Colorado, three at San Diego, three at home against the Dodgers, followed by four in a row in Arizona against the Rockies.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Archie Bradley, on the 15-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis, said he will start rehab work with Triple-A Reno next week.

UP NEXT

Padres: San Diego has Monday off, then opens a three-game series Tuesday at San Francisco. RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (3-5, 4.92 ERA) faces Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (7-4, 3.09).

Diamondbacks: After an off day Monday, Arizona plays three at Colorado. RHP Chase Anderson (3-1, 2.84 ERA) takes the mound against RHP Kyle Kendrick (2-9, 5.95).

from Sportsnet.ca http://ift.tt/1LoaylD