Kyle Higashioka broke open a scoreless game in the top of the ninth with a two-run homer, Brandon Lockridge followed with a solo shot, and the San Diego Padres, playing mostly reserves, downed the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 on Saturday night in the second meeting of a three-game series in Phoenix. Donovan Solano finished 4-for-5 and added another two-run homer with two outs in a stunning five-run ninth inning, and San Diego (93-68) won despite starting only three regulars after it clinched the fourth seed in the National League postseason with a 5-3 win over Arizona on Friday night. A.
J. Puk (4-9) took the loss for Arizona after coming on with one out in the ninth, allowing three hits and two long balls for the first-time ever in his career as a reliever. Meanwhile, Arizona (88-73) had only two hits as the Diamondbacks desperately seek to claim a National League wild-card berth.
The D-backs lost for the fifth time in six games and are on the outside looking in of a three-team race for the two final NL wild-card spots ahead of their regular-season finale Sunday in Arizona. David Peralta, a former D-back, got on in the ninth with a single to center, before Higashioka smacked a slider into the left field seats and Lockridge followed two pitches later by launching his first major league home run on his first major league hit. Solano, playing in place of star first baseman Luis Arraez, went deep against Scott McGough.
Wandy Peralta (3-2) was credited with the win for San Diego. Ariz.
