Diamondbacks Dominate Padres in 11‑Hit Victory

Arizona Rallies Early, Erupt for 11 Hits

The Diamondbacks jumped out early against Padres starter Walker Buehler, scoring six runs in the first three innings. Ketel Marte sparked the offense with a triple on a misplayed ball in center field at Petco. Geraldo Perdomo brought runners to the corners, and an errant pick‑off throw let Arizona bypass the usual RISP challenges. Two outs later, Max Kepler plated Perdomo with a double, giving the D‑backs a 2‑0 edge that quickly turned into a runaway win.

Huge Offensive Explosion

The bullpen’s relief effort turned into a showcase for the lineup. Corbin Carroll doubled, followed by solo singles from Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel, then Max Kepler launched his first three‑run homer as a Diamondback—a 417‑foot blast to right. Geraldo Perdomo added his sixth home run of the season, and Nolan Arenado cracked his tenth, putting the scoring across the board. All three long balls landed above the outfield wall, and Arizona finished with eleven hits, two each for Perdomo, Moreno and Kepler, the latter driving in four runs.

Pfaadt Returns With Strong Outing

Brandon Pfaadt delivered his best start of the season, pitching five scoreless innings with no walks and six strikeouts. His game score of 65 tied for his second‑best performance since July 18 of last year, trailing only his incomplete shutout against the Giants. The right‑hander allowed four singles, never loading a base, and managed to keep the Padres quiet throughout his stint. After a 66‑pitch outing in his return, he logged 72 pitches tonight, showing he is still working his way back from injury.

Buehler Struggles and Padres Fall

Walker Buehler’s struggles continued as his ERA climbed above five percent, now sitting at 5.07. The Padres southpaw has yet to regain the form that preceded his second Tommy John surgery in 2022, posting a 5.09 ERA since that operation. Despite a $1.5 million guaranteed contract, Buehler simply has not been effective this campaign. His second TJ has mirrored the trouble faced by teammate Justin Martinez, leaving the rotation in need of consistent arms.

Shutout pitching and franchise milestones

Following Pfaadt, Ryan Thompson and Drew Jameson each tossed two scoreless frames, sealing a 11‑0 strikeout‑to‑walk ratio for Arizona. The D‑backs matched their best K:BB mark of the season, first achieved on September 21, 2024 against Milwaukee. This was only the fourth time in franchise history Arizona combined a shutout with eight or more runs, and the previous occurrence came against San Diego in April 2023. The win kept the Diamondbacks in contention, now sitting at a .500 record for the fifteenth time this year.

Post‑Game Outlook

Arizona improved to 4‑for‑9 with runners in scoring position, a noticeable jump from earlier sloppiness. The 11 hits were distributed, with Perdomo, Moreno and Kepler each collecting two, and the latter also driving in four runs. The victory kept the Diamondbacks just 3.5 games behind the wild‑card leader Marlins, though the Cardinals and Phillies—who sit above them—did drop games earlier in the week. The D‑backs now turn to a quick four‑game set against the Dodgers, with Zac Gallen slated to face the lo‑clockwise‑OPS+ leader in what promises to be another test of Arizona’s young rotation.