Pollock lifts Diamondbacks Over Padres 7-5

May 26, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock (11) hits a 2 run walk off home run against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Diamondbacks returned home after a cross-country flight ready to make some noise. A.J. Pollock provided plenty of it as his two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning propelled the D’backs to a 7-5 victory over the San Diego Padres. Although it seems inconsequential given their record, the win moves the Snakes 2 1/2 games closer to the Friars in the National League West standings.

The seesaw affair had Arizona jump on the board first with a single by Cliff Pennington that scored Martin Prado and Cody Ross. Brandon McCarthy hummed along, and like so many starts in 2014, ran into a rough patch during one fateful inning. This time, it was the fifth as Yonder Alonso homered to lead it off. After getting two outs, Alexi Amarista and Tyson Ross singled before Everth Cabrera put one into the right field seats to give the Padres a 4-2 lead. The D’backs regained the lead in the sixth when they opened with five straight hits, capped by the suddenly-hot Prado’s run scoring-double for a 5-4 advantage. McCarthy was chased in the seventh when pinch-hitter Tommy Medica doubled with two outs. Joe Thatcher relieved and was greeted by a Cabrera double that tied the score at 5. Perhaps the most important play of the game came in the eighth when, with two outs, Jedd Gyorko laced a single sending Chase Headley to third.  However, Gyrko inexplicably tried stretching his hit into a double and was thrown out to end the Padres’ threat. Brad Ziegler pitched two innings for his first win of 2014.

Game 2 of the three game series will be Tuesday night with Wade Miley getting the nod against Eric Stults. First pitch is scheduled for 6;40 PM MST.