D-backs double down, pile on Padres in rout
PHOENIX -- The D-backs' offense continued to roll as it collected 17 hits, including a club-record-tying eight doubles, to back an outstanding outing from Rubby De La Rosa in an 11-0 win over the Padres on Thursday night at Chase Field.
It was a rough start for San Diego's Odrisamer Despaigne (2-1) as he allowed four runs in the first inning and eight over five innings. D-backs catcher Tuffy Gosewisch collected three doubles and four RBIs off Despaigne in his first three at-bats.
"I think no matter what team you have, it just helps any time you get a lead," D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said. "It relaxes probably our starting pitcher, relaxes the defense, takes a lot of pressure off the offense. I think we just had good at-bats all throughout the lineup from our leadoff all the way down to the eight-nine hole."
On the other side, De La Rosa (3-2) allowed just three hits while striking out seven in seven innings. The right-hander was helped by an offense that has scored 29 runs over its last three games, all wins.
Video: SD@ARI: De La Rosa pitches seven scoreless frames
"It was sort of a Jekyll and Hyde game," Padres manager Bud Black said. "The starting pitcher plays such an important role every night. And I think tonight you saw their guy pitch really well and our guy not. I think that's as simple as you can put it."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Homers by the two guys who just can't beat you: Despaigne was hammered by the D-backs to the tune of six runs on eight hits through three innings, including four for extra bases. Mark Trumbo homered with one out in the first and Goldschmidt went deep to lead off the third. Gosewisch added a pair of RBI doubles in both of those innings. It was Despaigne's worst outing of the season.
Video: SD@ARI: Goldy tattoos solo homer down left-field line
Offense clicking again: After scoring just four runs in a three-game series against the Dodgers, there were concerns on the coaching staff that the Arizona hitters were pressing. The D-backs then put up 18 runs in a doubleheader against the Rockies on Wednesday and followed that up by scoring in double digits against the Padres. More >
No relief in sight: The scoring didn't cease when Despaigne was replaced by right-hander Nick Vincent in the D-backs' half of the sixth. It looked promising when Vincent whiffed the first two D-backs, but then the Trumbo-Goldschmidt duo struck again with back-to-back doubles, and David Peralta had a single, accounting for another pair of runs.
Tuffy steps up: On the same day the D-backs signed veteran catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to a Minor League contract, current backstop Gosewisch showed he was not ready to give up playing time without a fight as he collected three doubles and drove in four runs.
Video: SD@ARI: Gosewisch hits three doubles, drives in four
QUOTABLE
"He had a bad game, leaving the ball right over the plate where good hitters like it. Just chalk it up. One of those nights. There were a lot of mistakes. He's a better one to ask than me about what was happening out there. There was nothing I could do about it aside from going out there and throwing it for him." -- Padres catcher Derek Norris on Despaigne's eight earned runs on 10 hits in five innings.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• In 72 at-bats this year coming into Thursday, Gosewisch did not have an extra-base hit. He doubled in his first three at-bats Thursday.
• The Padres have played their two worst games of the season in their last eight, also losing, 14-3, to the Astros on April 28 at Petco Park.
REPLAY
With two out in the bottom of the second, Trumbo smacked a grounder to third baseman Yangervis Solarte, who juggled the ball before throwing it to Yonder Alonso at first. First-base umpire Jim Joyce called Trumbo safe, and Black challenged. The call was overturned in one minute, eight seconds.
Video: SD@ARI: Padres challenge safe call, overturned in 2nd
WHAT'S NEXT
Padres: San Diego plays the second game of a four-game series against the D-backs at Chase Field. James Shields (3-0, 3.72 ERA) is making his seventh start of the season..
D-backs: Jeremy Hellickson will make his second start of the year against the Padres on Friday night. In his first look at them, Hellickson allowed five runs in 6 2/3 innings at Petco Park.
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