D-backs rely on long ball against Padres

October 1st, 2016

PHOENIX -- The D-backs waited until there were two outs. Then, they went to work. and each hit a two-run homer in a 5-3 win over the Padres on Friday night at Chase Field.
"Very important for us to compete," Arizona manager Chip Hale said. "The wins are important, obviously that's what we play for, but just to compete to the end. We always tell our guys we want you to run through first base. It's very simple. We teach that in Little League, don't we? So we want to finish this season that way -- run through the finish."
Owings broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning of the series-opening victory for Arizona, which scored all five of its runs with two outs. The D-backs' bullpen combined for four innings of scoreless relief after starter allowed three runs over five. (5-2) earned the win with a scoreless sixth, worked 2 2/3 innings and recorded the final out for his fifth save.
Padres starter (5-7) allowed all five runs in six innings. The veteran right-hander lost two of his last three starts to end the season. hit a two-run homer for San Diego, which scored all three of its runs in the fourth.
Jackson wants to be part of Padres' future
"I would like to end it on a better note," said Jackson, who finished with a 5.89 ERA in 13 starts for the Padres after signing in mid-June. "But I came out, felt good. Two two-run homers pretty much sum up the day. … [I] have to keep the ball in the park."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Owings keeps going: Before the game, Owings was presented with this year's Luis Gonzalez Award, given to the D-backs player who best exemplifies the talent, spirit and heart of the former Arizona outfielder, as decided by teammates, coaches and staff members.
"It was pretty cool, it's cool to get voted in by your teammates," Owings said. "It shows that just come here, play hard every day and be a good teammate, and good things will happen." More >

Raking rookie: With his 20th homer of the season -- a projected 456-foot moonshot off the facing of the center-field scoreboard -- Schimpf joined a select club. Only two previous Padres rookies had homered at least 20 times. Nate Colbert launched 24 in 1969, and hit 23 in 2013.
"You can't look at anything he's done this year and not be happy -- for him and for us as an organization to have him," said Padres manager Andy Green. "That ball was absolutely annihilated today."

Goldy pulverizes Padres: Goldschmidt has four homers since Aug. 24 -- all of them against San Diego. The Arizona first baseman's two-run shot off Jackson in the third was a no-doubter to straightaway center that traveled a projected 435 feet, according to Statcast™, with an exit velocity of 105 mph. It was Goldschmidt's first homer at Chase Field since Aug. 24.

They've got Sol: had his 14-game hitting streak snapped after an 0-for-4 night. But he certainly made his presence felt. On a chopper down the third-base line in the third inning, Solarte made a nice backhand stop in foul territory, but didn't have time to set himself. Instead, he made an incredible off-balance throw, on the money, to first base. (Needless to say, it prompted an "Oh my!" from Dick Enberg, the legendary broadcaster calling his final games for the Padres this weekend.)

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The announced attendance of 42,651 was the largest at Chase Field since Opening Day (48,165 on April 4 against Colorado).
AFTER REVIEW
With one out in the ninth, -- who had entered as a pinch-hitter for the Padres -- broke for third base on a chopper into the hole. D-backs shortstop Owings made a nice sliding play, and he threw to third base for the out -- a call that was confirmed after a challenge by Green.

WHAT'S NEXT
Padres: Since joining the Padres in early August, owns a 2.01 ERA and a 63-percent ground-ball rate. The veteran left-hander has benefited greatly from a small tweak to his arm slot. He's set to make his final start of the season in the second game of the series Saturday night at 5:10 p.m. PT.
D-backs: makes his final start of the season when the series continues on Saturday at 5:10 p.m. MST. Bradley (7-9, 5.15) has a 6.08 ERA in five starts in September. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.48 ERA in four career starts against the Padres, all this season.
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