A.J. Pollock’s homer lifts Diamondbacks over Padres

SAN DIEGO — A.J. Pollock homered in the ninth inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Sunday to stay on top of the NL West.

Pollock drove a 1-2 pitch from Kirby Yates (4-2) over the wall in left for his 16th homer, sending Arizona to its fourth win in five games. The D-backs had tied it at 3 on Daniel Descalso’s solo homer off rookie Trey Wingenter in the eighth.

“It was a great win. We needed it,” Pollock said after the game. “We’ll feel good about winning the series and have an off day and get back to it.”

Archie Bradley (4-4) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win, and Brad Boxberger retired the side in the ninth for his 28th save. The D-backs remained a half-game ahead of second-place Colorado, which won 4-2 at Atlanta.

David Peralta homered in the third against San Diego starter Brett Kennedy. Peralta missed Friday’s game due to illness and was limited to pinch-hitting on Saturday, but he collected two hits in the finale of the four-game set.

Arizona slugger Paul Goldschmidt set a club record by reaching base in 10 straight plate appearances when he was intentionally walked in the first. But he struck out on a foul tip in the third.

Hunter Renfroe homered and drove in three runs for San Diego, which has lost seven of its last eight against Arizona at Petco Park.

Renfroe hit a two-run shot in the first against Zack Greinke that traveled into the visiting bullpen in left-center and bounced near the newly erected statue of Padres great Trevor Hoffman. Renfroe was later hit on the right forearm by a pitch from Bradley and exited the game in the ninth.

Greinke allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one.

Kennedy pitched five innings in his third career start, allowing two runs and six hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

D-backs: RHP Shelby Miller, on the 60-day DL with right elbow inflammation, threw from 60 feet on Saturday and felt no discomfort in his arm. It was the first time Miller has thrown since being shut down in July after making just four starts following his return from Tommy John surgery.

UP NEXT

D-backs: After an off day on Monday, Arizona returns home to face the Los Angeles Angels. LHP Patrick Corbin (10-8, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound for the Diamondbacks, facing the Angels for the first time in his career.

Padres: Are off Monday before beginning a three-game series at Colorado. The club has not named a starter for Tuesday’s game against LHP Tyler Anderson (6-5, 4.39 ERA) and the Rockies.