Arizona Diamondbacks: Martinez, Bradley and the offense break out in San Diego

The Arizona Diamondbacks offense finally came through and picked up starter Robbie Ray

Sometimes it only takes one hit to get a rally started — or as Torey Lovullo likes to say, build an inning.

The Arizona Diamondbacks found themselves down, 6-2, entering the sixth inning. If the score held, the D-backs would become the first team since the 2003 Marlins to score exactly two runs in five straight games.

September call-up Ildemaro Vargas singled to center field, and suddenly the bats came to life. After David Peralta walked, Ketel Marte lined a slider from Paders starter Dinelson Lamet just down the left field line. The ball rolled into the corner and Vargas scored.

With the score 6-3 and runners at the corners, Paul Goldschmidt flew out deep enough to center fielder Manuel Margot to bring in Peralta and the D-backs first sacrifice fly on this road trip made it a two run game, 6-4.

Then, J.D. “Just Dingers” Martinez once again lived up to his nickname. The D-backs right fielder took an up and away fastball and blasted it into the right field seats for an opposite field blast, his 29th since joining the Diamondbacks. The two-time reigning N.L. Player of the Week tied the game at six, and he now has 54 RBI with the D-backs.

More big hits and big innings followed.

Peralta gave the Diamondbacks a 7-6 lead with a clutch RBI double. In the eighth, after recording the final out of the seventh, Archie Bradley got a chance to hit and made the most of it. He blasted a fastball up the middle and the ball got away from the usually sure handed Margot. Bradley ended up at third and extended the lead to 9-6.

Then in the ninth inning, the Padres started throwing the ball everywhere. Ketel Marte reached on a bobble fest of the baseball by Eric Aybar. Then, Padres reliever Corey Mazzoni threw away a pickoff attempt and Marte ended up at third. Paul Goldschmidt drove him in with an RBI single and it was 10-6.

Goldschmidt finished with two hits and two RBI. Entering the game, Goldy was 0-for-8 for the series and 3-for-22 on the road trip.

The Diamondbacks were not done. After Jake Lamb walked, Pollock stayed hot. He hit a three-run bomb, making the score 13-6 and the party was on.

Hunter Renfroe hit three home runs, including a solo shot in the ninth. The two teams combined to hit nine home runs, the first time that has happened in Petco Park history.

Everybody probably forgot that Robbie Ray struggled. He lasted just 4.1 innings, allowed five runs and walked five. But Ray has been outstanding as of late and it was good to see the offense pick him up.

We can’t forget about Jimmie Sherfy. He worked out of trouble in the sixth and picked up his first career major league win. Sherfy has still not allowed a run at the major league level.

It was only fitting that Bradley would do something like that. This game had everything. Twists and turns, unreal moments and unreal power.

In the first inning, Peralta leadoff the game with a home run. A.J. Pollock led off Tuesday’s game with a home run. For the first time in franchise history, two different batters hit a homer to lead off back-to-back contests.

Jake Lamb added a solo shot of his own, his first since Aug. 20. Lamb had been hitting well under .200 since the All-Star Break. It was good to see him barrel up a baseball.

In total, the Diamondbacks scored 11 unanswered runs and won the game 13-6 at Petco Park. The win snapped a three-game losing streak. More importantly, the Rockies, Cubs, Brewers and Dodgers all lost.

The Diamondbacks magic number to clinch a postseason spot sits at four games.

Up Next

After an off day Thursday, the Diamondbacks open up the final homestand of the season against the Marlins on Friday. Zack Greinke will be on the mound.

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