Diamondbacks 6, Padres 1
Martin Prado drove in three runs and Brandon McCarthy tossed seven strong innings as host Arizona won the opener of the three-game series.
McCarthy (3-8) allowed one unearned run without issuing a walk to win for the first time since May 24, and Arizona pulled within six games of Cincinnati in the race for the second wild card in the National League. Eury De La Rosa struck out four over two scoreless innings in relief.
The Diamondbacks took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when they scored two runs off Tyson Ross (3-7), who surrendered six runs (four earned) over six frames. Arizona improved to 5-8 in the season series against the Padres, who were held to five singles.
After Prado delivered a two-run single in the sixth, Arizona drew clear with two more runs in the seventh. Gerardo Parra belted a leadoff double and scored on Tony Campana’s grounder before Paul Goldschmidt, who tripled in a run in the fourth, capped the scoring when his fielder’s choice scored Aaron Hill from third base.
Will Venable had two hits for the Padres, who outlasted the Cubs 3-2 in 15 innings on Sunday. Venable has hit safely in 21 of 22 games this month.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Diamondbacks optioned 3B Matt Davidson and C Tuffy Gosewisch to Triple-A Reno and activated C Miguel Montero and 3B Eric Chavez from the 15-day disabled list. … Hill missed his second straight start with tightness in his groin but pinch hit in the seventh. … The Padres recalled OF Reymond Fuentes and RHP Anthony Bass from Triple-A Tucson and optioned RHP Brad Brach and OF Jaff Decker to Triple-A Tucson.