PHOENIX — Despite setting the table several times early, the San Diego Padres couldn’t knock enough in as they dropped their series opener to the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 on Friday night at Chase Field.
After Fernando Tatis Jr. scored the opening run of the game on an error, the Padres gave up five straight runs and saw their bats go silent with no hits after the fifth inning and going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Meanwhile the Diamondbacks used a pair of solo home runs by Josh Naylor and Corbin Carroll, putting the game out for reach with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to chase Padres starter Stephen Kolek.
San Diego generated traffic multiple times against Arizona starter Ryne Nelson, but the only run came unearned in the first inning when Tatis led off with a double. Tatis came home to score after tagging to take third on a Luis Arraez line out to center, but Alek Thomas’s throw bounced away at third and the San Diego right fielder sprinted across.
After that there was an opportunity with runners on the corners and one out in the second came up empty.
A critical moment came when Elias Díaz struck out for the second out and Jake Cronenworth took off for second, which forced a throw from Gabriel Moreno that went into center field and Gavin Sheets scored. However the umpire made contact with the Arizona catcher and ruled interference, sending the runners back where they’d stay on a flyout.
Then, after a double play in the third, Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill cracked back-to-back singles but Sheets’ long fly to center came up two feet short of leaving the yard.
Tatis reached base on three of his four plate appearances, adding a single in the fifth inning and walking in to lead off the third. He has reached base in five straight games and nine of the 11 games in June.
Kolek was solid through the first four innings, allowing just three hits and a pair of runs before running into trouble in the fifth inning, which ultimately led to taking his second loss of the season.
Carroll led off with his 20th home run of the season, then Ketel Martel singled and Geraldo Perdomo doubled to set up a Josh Naylor sacrifice fly. Kolek plunked Eugenio Suárez with a sinker, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled to end the San Diego starter’s night.
Kolek finished with seven hits and 5 runs (4 earned runs) allowed over 4 ⅓ innings, and had five strikeouts with two walks. It was his shortest start of the season, and first time he did not complete five innings.
In addition to the Carroll depth charge, Naylor hit his ninth home run of the season to right center in the second inning to tie the game 1-1. Then in the third Carroll reached first on a passed ball after striking out with two outs, then Marte walked and Perdomo knocked an RBI single.
The Diamondbacks entered the game ranked third in the Majors in doubles, triples and home runs, getting three extra-base hits against Kolek.
Nelson earned his third win of the season, allowing six hits and one unearned run in five innings of work, with three strikeouts and a walk. Four Diamondback relievers combined to hold San Diego hitless over the final four innings with one walk and two strikeouts.
Sean Reynolds pitched 1 ⅔ innings with a strikeout, Wandy Peralta threw an inning with a K and David Morgan completed the San Diego bullpen’s hit-free night with two strikeouts and a walk in the eighth inning.
Game two of the series will see Ryan Bergert (1-0, 1.26 ERA) start for the Padres while Arizona counters with righty Zac Gallen (4-8, 5.15 ERA) for the 4:15 p.m. first pitch at Chase Field.