Padres Rally too late, Diamondbacks hold on to Win

Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a two run home run against the San Diego Padres in the second inning at Chase Field on May 28, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona.

(May 28, 2016 - Source: Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images North America)

The San Diego Padres (20-30) rally late but come up short as the Arizona Diamondbacks (22-29) win 8-7 in game two of their three-game series.

San Diego were the first to score with a two-out solo home run from RF Matt Kemp in the opening inning. It was his 12th long ball of the season.

The Diamondbacks responded in the bottom of the frame. RF Michael Bourn and 1B Paul Goldschmidt were in scoring position when 3B Jake Lamb drove them in with a single to give Arizona a 2-1 lead.

Arizona pulled away in the second inning as they scored another five runs. SP Cesar Vargas loaded the bases with back-to-back singles to CF Chris Owings and SP Zack Greinke and a walk to SS Nick Ahmed.

2B Jean Segura hit a sacrifice flyball and Chris Owings came home for the 3-1 lead. Zack Greinke and Nick Ahmed moved to third and second base on the play and were batted in by a single from Michael Bourn.

Paul Goldschmidt followed with a two-run homer to put the Diamondbacks 7-1 up. It was his ninth home run of the season.

Cesar Vargas (0-3) suffered enough and was relieved after recording the next out. He surrendered 6 hits, 2 walks and 7 earned runs while striking out 1. His ERA and WHIP increased to 5.03 and 1.65, respectively.

The Diamondbacks added another run in the fifth inning. Jake Lamb drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third base on a single from C Welington Castillo. Lamb crossed home plate after RP Brad Hand threw a wild pitch.

Zack Greinke, who pitched a dominant game to this point, got roughed up a little in the sixth inning. He gave up back-to-back doubles to SS Alexi Amarista and CF Jon Jay, which resulted in one run, and walked 1B Wil Myers.

2B Yangervis Solarte hit a one-out single and drove in Jon Jay for San Diego’s third run of the game. Wil Myers moved to third base and came home after a sacrifice flyball from LF Melvin Upton Jr.

Zack Greinke (6-3) pitched 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, 1 walk and 4 earned runs while striking out 2. He now has a 4.71 ERA on the season with a 1.30 WHIP.

In the ninth inning, CL Brad Ziegler entered the game in a non-save situation to hold the lead but the Padres almost managed a successful comeback.

Yangervis Solarte and Melvin Upton Jr. hit back-to-back singles and advanced to third and second base on a groundout by 3B Brett Wallace. C Derek Norris reached first base on a throwing error by Brad Ziegler and Yangveris Solarte crossed home plate for San Diego’s fifth run.

PH Hector Sanchez followed and batted in Melvin Upton Jr. and Derek Norris with a single. Alexi Amarista grounded into double next to end the game.

Paul Goldschmidt went 2-for-3 with 2 runs, 1 HR and 2 RBI. He is batting .250 on the season and has 26 runs, 9 HR and 30 RBI.

Michael Bourn had 3 hits in 4 at-bats, recording 2 runs and 2 RBI. He has a .423 batting average with 4 runs and 6 RBI this year.