Tim Tawa’s grand slam, Ildemaro Vargas’ continued hot streak fuel Diamondbacks’ rally to beat Padres

Tim Tawa gave Arizona a massive boost with his grand slam as the Diamondbacks batted around in the seventh inning of Sunday’s 12-7 win over the San Diego Padres in Mexico City.

TAWUENO EL GRAND SLAM pic.twitter.com/8LZMPLXWUp

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 26, 2026

It was Tawa’s first grand slam of his career and first home run of 2026, coming after all seven of his home runs as a rookie in 2025 were solo shots. The grand slam tripled his RBI total on the year from two to six (41 at-bats).

Jose Fernandez, Nolan Arenado and Alek Thomas had reached on three consecutive singles on a combined five pitches before Tawa launched the second pitch he saw.

The runs he scored preceded Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s go-ahead RBI double, as Corbin Carroll sprinted home from first. In one half-inning, the Diamondbacks’ 7-2 deficit was flipped into an 8-7 lead.

Ildemaro Vargas also doubled in the inning, one inning after his solo home run extended his Major League-leading 23-game hit streak dating back to last season (longest streak since Bryan Reynolds’ 25 games in June 2024). His 20-game streak to start this season is now top five in the divisional era (dating to 1969).

Vargas finished the game a single shy of the cycle after an eighth-inning triple cleared loaded bases. Vargas scored two pitches later on Ketel Marte’s single for a 12-7 lead.

Que siga la mata dando. pic.twitter.com/8cCMJfsHhP

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 26, 2026

Arizona was down 7-1 before Vargas’ home run. The comeback after the six-run deficit was the Diamondbacks’ largest since an 11-10 win over the Atlanta Braves on June 5, 2025.

After Ryne Nelson gave up six earned runs on seven hits in five innings pitched, the bullpen was largely spotless to close things out, a home run given up by Kevin Ginkel in the sixth inning the only blemish.

Ryan Thompson, Juan Morillo and Jonathan Loaisiga combined for three scoreless innings to end it.

Up next for Diamondbacks

Arizona finished the two-game set in Mexico with a split, and it gets Monday off as a travel day.

The Diamondbacks begin a three-game series at the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Merrill Kelly will take the mound for Arizona against Chad Patrick in a matchup of right-handers.

First pitch is set for 4:40 p.m. MST on 98.7, the Arizona Sports app and online.

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