Diamondbacks Win Series Against Padres
By Cody Fincher
The Arizona Diamondbacks were able to win the series against the San Diego Padres this weekend. It was a god bounce-back series after they were only able to split the last series against the Dodgers, where they had a chance to sweep.
Here’s how this series played out…
Friday September 25
Sep 27, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Ender Inciarte (5) is congratulated by center fielder A.J. Pollock (11) after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The D-Backs were able to jump out in front early in this one. In the first inning, the D-Backs scored two early runs on RBIs from A.J. Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt to make it 2-0. The early dagger occurred in the top of the second inning as Pollock hit a grand slam to make it 6-0 early. The Padres were able to score three runs as the rest of the game went along but were unable to come back.
It was a good night for Rubby De La Rosa on the mound. De La Rosa was able to go 5 2/3 innings, gave up three runs, walked three and struck out two. De La Rosa was able to get his 14th win of the year, but you would have expected a better pitching line from him since he was given such an early lead.
Nevertheless, the D-Backs took game one of this series by a score of 6-3.
Saturday September 26
Sep 26, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (58) pitches during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Game two of the series did not go the D-Backs’ way as they were shut out in what ended up being a bit of a pitcher’s duel.
Jeremy Hellickson was good in this one as he went six innings, only giving up one run on four hits while striking out five. Hellickson was on the receiving end of some bad luck, as he was given no run support from the D-Backs offense.
Robbie Erlin, who gave up seven runs in his last start, was quite good for the Padres in this one. He went seven innings, gave up no runs and struck out four.
The Padres were only up 1-0 going into the eighth inning, but Josh Collmenter gave up an RBI double to Justin Upton and a sacrifice fly to Jed Gyorko to make it 3-0. The D-Backs could not come back in this one and lost by that score.
Sunday September 27
Sep 27, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Ender Inciarte (5) hits a solo home run during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Game three of this series was interesting. Originally, Jhoulys Chacin was scheduled to start this game but right before the series started, manager Chip Hale said that Zack Godley would get the start on Sunday.
So Godley started but only lasted three innings, gave up no runs and struck out three. Godley’s short outing might be due to the D-Backs wanting to limit his innings. Chacin then came in to relieve Godley and also went three innings, gave up two runs and struck out four. The bullpen combined to give up two runs over six innings.
This one was about the outfielders for Arizona. David Peralta got it started in the fourth inning, hitting a solo home run to make it 1-0. In the fifth, Ender Inciarte hit a solo shot of his own to make it 2-0.
Then in the seventh inning, after already going 3-3, Inciarte hit his second home run of the game, a two-run shot, to make it 4-2 D-Backs and that is where the score would stay as Arizona went on to secure the victory.
The Diamondbacks return home for their final two series of the season as the will face the Colorado Rockies and the Houston Astros.