Goldschmidt homers in big inning as D-backs edge Padres
PHOENIX -- Paul Goldschmidt is showing signs of returning to consistent All-Star form.
The Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman homered and doubled in three at-bats Saturday night, helping his team to an 8-7 win over the San Diego Padres. Goldschmidt is 12 for 33 (.364) with nine RBI and nine walks in his last 10 games and has raised his batting average from .222 to .250 over the past two weeks.
"Just trying to hit the ball hard. I think just trying to make solid contact every day and hit some line drives," Goldschmidt said. "If you do that, they're going to catch some, but more often than not, you'll get some hits."
Goldschmidt homered during a five-run second inning, Michael Bourn had three hits and the Arizona Diamondbacks put an end to a four-game skid.
Goldschmidt also scored twice, and Bourn had a triple, a stolen base and two RBI.
Arizona knocked starter Cesar Vargas out of the game in the second.
Zack Greinke (6-3) gave up a solo home run to Matt Kemp in the first, then held the Padres scoreless until the sixth. He allowed four runs on six hits and won for the fourth time in five starts, improving to 7-1 in 14 career starts against San Diego.
"Fastball was probably the best it's been all year," Greinke said. "Been pitching good the past month, been winning a lot of games, that's really all that matters. I probably pitched better today than in some other games where I've had better results."
The Padres fought back from a seven-run deficit and scored three runs off closer Brad Ziegler in the ninth, but Alexi Amarista grounded into a double play to end it.
"That is who we have been all year," Padres manager Andy Green said. "I don't think we have wavered in that regard. And plenty of times we didn't get over the hump, but very rarely have we just been completely out of the baseball game."
The Diamondbacks took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run single from Jake Lamb. The first three Arizona hitters reached base in the second, then Jean Segura hit a sacrifice fly. Bourn followed with a two-run single and Goldschmidt hit a two-run shot, his ninth homer of the season.
"It's tough to take him out of the lineup, even with a lefty pitching," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said of Bourn. "He's got a good stroke going. He has a lot of life in that body and we're excited to have him."
Goldschmidt was robbed of a hit in the fourth when first baseman Wil Myers dived to his left to snare a line drive headed to right field.
Vargas (0-3) is winless in seven starts this season.
A little boy ended up with Padres catcher Derek Norris' bat after it flew into the stands on a swing and foul ball in the fifth inning. The bat whipped into the seats, but the boy and a woman with an infant sitting next to him were OK.
Diamondbacks: Segura went down in the box after Luis Perdomo's pitch grazed the top of his helmet in the fourth inning. He'd been hit in the helmet with a pitch a few days earlier in Pittsburgh and was immediately checked by training staff. Originally it was ruled a hit by pitch but overturned on replay review, and Segura continued his at-bat.
Padres: Drew Pomeranz (4-4) brings a 1.70 ERA into Sunday's start against Arizona. He had an 18-inning scoreless streak earlier this month.
Diamondbacks: Archie Bradley will be called up from Triple-A Reno to start Sunday against San Diego. Bradley (1-0) will be making his third start for Arizona. He is 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA with Reno.
