Pollock's 3-run homer snaps D-backs' 3-game skid
PHOENIX -- One pitch was all it took for A.J. Pollock. He got the one he wanted and deposited it in the seats in left field for the go-ahead runs in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 6-4 win over the San Diego Padres Tuesday night.
Pollock drove the first pitch from reliever Kevin Quackenbush for a three-run home run in the seventh inning. Quackenbush had just entered the game for losing pitcher Bud Norris (1-2).
"It was one pitch, fastball. I really wanted to be aggressive with a guy on first and third in a key spot to get that run in. I just wanted to be ready and that was kind of my approach, and it worked out," Pollock said.
"'Quack' has been lights out and sometimes not," Padres manager Pat Murphy said. "That sixth or seventh inning has been our downfall for the past month."
The Diamondbacks scored five runs in the inning and batted around off four Padres relievers, spoiling a good performance from Padres starter Tyson Ross, who struck out nine and allowed a run on four hits in six innings.
Randall Delgado (6-4) got the win in relief, ending the seventh with a strikeout of Wil Myers, the only batter he faced.
Down 3-1, the Diamondbacks cut the lead to one on a run-scoring triple by Nick Ahmed. The ball bounced under left fielder Justin Upton's glove and went to the wall. Then after Norris walked pinch hitter Aaron Hill, Pollock hit his home run.
"He's been doing it all year," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said of Pollock, who made the All-Star team this season for the first time in his career. "He and Goldy (Paul Goldschmidt) have been so good for us in those situations."
Brandon Drury singled deep in the hole at second base and Ender Inciarte scored to make the score 6-3 before the inning ended.
Upton had earlier given the Padres a 1-0 lead on his 26th home run of the season, which reached the upper deck in left field. Upton had three hits for the game.
The Padres added to their lead in the third inning when Ross led off with a single and moved to third base after a single and a walk. Yangervis Solarte hit into a double play, allowing Ross to score.
Diamondbacks starter Jhoulys Chacin lasted five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts for Arizona.
The Diamondbacks cut the Padres' lead to 2-1 on an RBI single by Welington Castillo in the sixth off Ross.
San Diego went up 3-1 in the top of the seventh on a two-out single by the No. 9 hitter in the order, Travis Jankowski. That drove in Austin Hedges.
Brad Ziegler finished up for his 26th save and has converted 24 straight save chances. He allowed a run to score on a wild pitch but went 1 1/3 innings.
"Unfortunately, with the struggles we've had just winning games, I've had a lot of days off. I feel like I'm fresh enough to do that," Ziegler said of his longer outing. "Jhoulys was great and put us in a good position to win that game, and credit to our offense just hanging there, because Tyson was tough."
Murphy was ejected in the top of the eighth inning for arguing by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez. It was Murphy's fifth ejection of the season.
Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale challenged an out call on a stolen base attempt by leadoff man Pollock in the first inning. After looking at replay for 2 minutes, 42 seconds, the call was overturned and Pollock notched his 35th stolen base of the season.
Murphy challenged a stolen base for the Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte in the seventh but the call of safe was upheld after a two-minute review.
The retractable roof at Chase Field was pushed open for Tuesday night's game for the first time since a 2-1 Arizona win over the New York Mets on June 6. The Diamondbacks improved to 13-13 with the roof open this season. The temperature was 92 degrees with a slight breeze at first pitch.
Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Tuesday's game. Chandler is new to the Suns this season after signing as a free agent in July.
Padres: Right-hander Andrew Cashner is scheduled to start Wednesday night against Arizona in the series finale. Cashner is 5-15 with a 4.27 earned run average this season and has allowed the most hits (182) and runs (101) by a Padres pitcher.
Diamondbacks: Left-hander Robbie Ray (4-11) is set to face the Padres Wednesday. It will be his 20th start of the season and he is 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA, 18 strikeouts and a .196 opponent batting average in his last three starts