The Diamondbacks are five games under .500, far behind in both the National League West and NL wild-card races. But their winning record against the division improved on Monday, Aug. 4, with a 6-2 win over the San Diego Padres at Chase Field.

The Diamondbacks (54-59) tallied 12 hits and got a strong start from Brandon Pfaadt. One of their five extra-base hits was a home run from recently arrived first baseman Tyler Locklear, his first in a Diamondbacks uniform.  

The win moved Arizona to 16-12 against the NL West, and only the division-leading Dodgers have a higher winning percentage within the division. The Diamondbacks are 5-3 against the Padres, the team currently in control of the third and final wild-card spot in the National League.

Arizona has won three straight games overall.

“There’s extra motivation when the Padres, Dodgers, San Fran comes in town,” Pfaadt said. “When they come into Chase Field, we want to beat them and when we go there they want to beat us. So it’s always going to be a dogfight no matter what.”

Monday night was just as much about two new Diamondbacks. Locklear made a grand first impression with the home fans, and right-hander Andrew Hoffman, just called up from Triple-A Reno after a cross-country journey following his trade to the Diamondbacks in the Randal Grichuk deal with the Kansas City Royals, looked impressive in relief.

Hoffman, despite making his home in the Phoenix area and having been at spring training in nearby Surprise, had never been to Chase Field. He relieved Pfaadt in the sixth and needed one pitch to get the final out with runners on first and third. Hoffman then struck out Padres stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado in the seventh inning, retiring the Padres in order.

“That’s pretty cool,” Hoffman said. “They’re two phenomenal players. You see them everywhere, all over ESPN, All-Stars, MVPs, all this, and it’s a cool experience.”

Hoffman said commanding his change-up is key for him, as his entire pitch arsenal plays off that pitch.

“You’re starting to see some of the characteristics of what this team can be,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “It’s just a matter of going out there and being consistent and doing it every single day.”

Locklear, who spent much of the season in Triple-A with the Seattle Mariners’ farm club in Tacoma before being acquired in the Eugenio Suarez trade, hit his first home run of the season and third of his big-league career in the bottom of the third inning off Padres starter JP Sears.

“It was really cool just to be able to do something for the team, and just see their reaction to it,” Locklear said. “Everybody’s been welcoming me with open arms here, so happy to be here.”

Locklear said he has a great opportunity with the Diamondbacks.

“I’m just trying to do my part, do what I can in the lineup, battle my at-bats, play good defense and do whatever Torey asks me,” he said.

Alek Thomas had his fourth straight multi-hit game in a performance that included an eighth-inning solo home run. Ketel Marte had two hits and scored twice. Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each had two hits and two runs batted in.

Pfaadt (11-7) was sharp in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and issued three walks. He tied a career high for wins in a season, set last year.

Kyle Backhus pitched two innings of scoreless relief to earn his first career save after coming in for Hoffman.

“He’s had to fight for everything in his career,” Lovullo said of Backhus. “Nothing was handed to him, and I think he’s got a little chip-on-his-shoulder mentality. And I like that.”

-Jose M. Romero

Zac Gallen happy to remain with club, glad for ex-teammate

In the Diamondbacks’ Chase Field clubhouse prior to their game against the Padres on Monday, Aug. 4, RHP Zac Gallen said he was glad to still be with the Diamondbacks after the trade deadline. He, his fiancée and his dog have made the Phoenix area home for the past three years.

“It was a huge added bonus for me,” Gallen said. “It’s an organization that means a lot to me. (GM Mike Hazen) and the whole entire staff have been very transparent with that. Yeah, it was a little bit weird, kind of not knowing what potentially could happen, but I kind of had the feeling that I was going to be here.

“I’m glad to be here. It’s the ultimate bottom line.”

To his left was once the clubhouse stall of former teammate Merrill Kelly, who was traded to the Texas Rangers on July 31. Gallen said when the Diamondbacks returned to Chase Field from Sacramento on Aug. 3, he came into the clubhouse to retrieve his keys.

That’s when he noticed Kelly’s nameplate was gone from his stall.

“It was a little strange,” Gallen said. “He’s become one of my really good friends in baseball. We spend a lot of time together, mainly playing a lot of golf and getting dinners here and there. A little bit weird, but ultimately I’m happy for him. I’m happy that he’s pitched really well this year. He put himself in a spot to … pitch for a contender.”

-Jose M. Romero

Lovullo is getting to know his current first baseman, Locklear, who arrived in the trade with Seattle for Eugenio Suarez on July 31.

Locklear made his Diamondbacks home debut on Aug. 4, batting fifth and playing first base.

Lovullo said he received a lot of text messages telling him that Locklear will be a solid addition to the Diamondbacks, including one from former major leaguer Billy Ripken, the former Baltimore Oriole and brother of legend Cal Ripken Jr.

Locklear’s hometown is Baltimore.

“It said, this kid’s gonna be a really good player for you, you’ve just to got to give him a chance, and you’ve got to coach him,” Lovullo said. “There’s a lot there. He’s very stubborn to his approach. He takes a very similar swing path on every single pitch, and he’s on pitches.”

Locklear is settling into his new surroundings.

“It’s just different, it’s how the game works,” Locklear said of being traded. “Just happy to be here.

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” he added.

— Jose M. Romero

Ginkel to injured list, Hoffman arrives

The Diamondbacks placed right-hander Kevin Ginkel on the 15-day injured list with a sprained right shoulder, the latest blow to a bullpen that has been battered by injuries all season.

Taking his place on the roster is Hoffmann, one of the players the club acquired ahead of the trade deadline last week.

The details on Ginkel’s injury are not clear. He worked the ninth inning of the club’s win on Aug. 2, but did not pitch in a save situation the next day.

“He was unavailable yesterday (Aug. 3),” Lovullo said. “He had some imaging, and that’s what came out of it.”

Hoffmann was acquired from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfielder Randal Grichuk.

He made two appearances with Triple-Reno after the trade. In the first one, he issued two walks and gave up a single but worked out of a bases-loaded jam without allowing a run. He worked a scoreless inning, retiring all three batters he faced, in his other appearance.

Hoffman had his car shipped to Reno, thinking he would get there eventually, after being told he was traded while in Syracuse, N.Y. From there, he went to Kansas City, then Omaha to pack up his things since he’d been at Triple-A there, then to Las Vegas to join Reno.

He flew to Phoenix from Las Vegas on Aug. 3.

“I’ve been traded twice now in a very short time,” Hoffman said. “It’s always a good thing. Anytime you’re wanted by somebody else, it’s always a positive thing.”

— Nick Piecoro and Jose M. Romero

Good news for Gabriel Moreno

Lovullo said catcher Gabriel Moreno is able to begin baseball activities, almost two months after he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a broken bone in his right hand.

Moreno’s latest CT scan revealed that his injury has healed enough for him to move from taking dry swings to hitting, possibly by the end of the week.

“He’s asymptomatic,” Lovullo said of Moreno. “He’s been transitioning and strengthening up that right hand, so we’ve just got to continue that process and hopefully get him back in the field as soon as possible.”

Infielder Ildemaro Vargas (fractured foot bone, 10-day injured list) will take live batting practice on Aug. 5, Lovullo said. He’s already played one rehab game as a hitter only and will get more at-bats and defensive work in a game on Aug. 7.

First baseman/DH Pavin Smith (10-day injured list, strained oblique) is also expected to take live batting practice on Aug. 5 with the hope that he can play first base in a game on Aug. 7.

Right-hander reliever Ryan Thompson (15-day injured list, shoulder strain) could be ready for a bullpen session on Aug. 8.

Infielder Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) is on the mend and will take live batting practice on Aug. 5 at Chase Field. He’s with the Diamondbacks this week, and the hope is he will soon be ready to play games at Triple-A Reno after a rehab game on Aug. 7 at Salt River Fields.

—Jose M. Romero

Coming up

Aug. 5: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (6-3, 3.20) vs. Padres RHP Yu Darvish (1-3, 6.46).

Aug. 6: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Anthony DeSclafani (1-2, 4.91) vs. Padres LHP Nestor Cortes (1-1, 9.00)

Aug. 7: Off.

Aug. 8: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (8-12, 5.48) vs. Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (0-5, 6.18).

(This story has been updated to add new information.)