ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs turn four-run deficit into rout of Padres

Sep 20, 2017, 10:32 PM | Updated: Sep 21, 2017, 12:08 am

Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock looks back as he heads home on a two-run single by Archie Bradle...

Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock looks back as he heads home on a two-run single by Archie Bradley during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)

(AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The ball was flying out of Petco Park like never before on Wednesday night, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks get back on track even as the San Diego Padres made some history.

David Peralta hit a leadoff homer and added a go-ahead double in the seventh for the Diamondbacks, who scored 11 runs in the final four innings and overcame rookie Hunter Renfroe’s three homers as the NL wild card leaders beat the Padres 13-7.

The Padres, who blew a 6-2 lead, hit five home runs. Renfroe had his first career three-homer game and tied Nate Colbert’s club record for rookies with 24. Renfroe became the first Padres rookie to hit three home runs, and the seventh San Diego player overall to do it.

The nine home runs were the most ever in a game at Petco Park, which opened in 2004.

The Diamondbacks hit four homers in avoiding a three-game sweep. They scored four times in the sixth to tie it, including a two-run homer by J.D. Martinez, and went ahead in the seventh. Chris Herrmann singled with one out off Craig Stammen (2-3) and scored the go-ahead run on Peralta’s double to center.

A.J. Pollock hit a three-run homer in the four-run ninth, his 13th. All four runs were unearned due to an error by shortstop Erick Aybar.

“I’ve never seen the ball fly like it’s flying here tonight,” Martinez said. “That took me back a little bit.”

There already have been a record number of homers in the majors this season.

“I think the game has adapted,” Martinez said. “Pitchers are always ahead of hitters; I think hitters are starting to catch up with pitchers. You don’t see too many sinker guys anymore. Everyone wants to throw four seamers. Everyone wants to throw the ball up. If you throw the ball up, that ball’s going to get hit.

“Hitters have made the adjustment. They’ve learned that the ball in the air is more valuable than a ball on the ground.”

Of course, he homered on a fastball up.

The Diamondbacks’ first three home runs were off rookie starter Dinelson Lamet. Martinez’s two-run shot in the sixth pulled them into a 6-all tie after they trailed 6-2. It was his 24th with the Diamondbacks and 31st overall.

Peralta homered to left-center on the game’s second pitch, his 14th, and Jake Lamb connected with one out in the second, his 28th.

Jimmie Sherfy (2-0) pitched one inning for the win.

Rocky Gale and Christian Villanueva hit their first career home runs for San Diego.

The five homers gave the Padres 181, setting a franchise single-season record. They have a record 85 at Petco Park this season, breaking the old mark of 83 set last year. The downtown ballpark opened in 2004.

Renfroe hit a two-run homer in the third, a leadoff shot in the fifth and a solo drive in the ninth. It was the fourth career multihomer game for Renfroe, who made his big league debut late last season, and third this year. He was recalled Monday from Triple-A El Paso, where he’d spent a month working on his swing.

“That last one was the best, probably,” Renfroe said. “Little curveball, slider thing in the zone. Kind of hung there. Got a little more barrel than the other ones. It was the first time in my professional career to get three, so obviously it’s a really cool moment, and hope to do it again.”

Villanueva, who made his first big league start Monday night, got his first hit when he singled with one out in the second. Gale, 29, who’s spent almost his entire career in the minors, followed with a two-run homer off the lower balcony on the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner. He had a big smile on his face as he rounded the bases.

Gale also was called up Monday. He’s making his first appearance in the big leagues since 2015, when he played in 11 games with the Padres. He had made one previous start, on Sept. 30, 2015, when he got his first and, until Wednesday night, only major league hit.

“It was awesome. I can’t believe how much emotion I felt in that moment,” Gale said. “I couldn’t believe it. I was surprised. I think I screeched when I hit first base. I’m glad they didn’t have a mike on me.”

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: After a day off, RHP Zack Greinke (17-6, 2.87 ERA) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game home series against Miami on Friday night. He is 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA in his last six games.

Padres: LHP Clayton Richard (7-14, 4.82) is scheduled to start Thursday night in the opener of a four-game home series against Colorado, which has a tenuous grip on the second NL wild-card spot. Richard agreed Wednesday to a $6 million, two-year contract that runs through 2019. The Rockies will counter with Tyler Anderson (5-5, 5.28).

Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta rounds the bases after hitting a home run as umpire Greg Gibson watches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws a pitch to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws a pitch to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws a pitch to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres' Hunter Renfroe swings on a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres' Hunter Renfroe rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run as Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray walks on the mound during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres' Rocky Gale is congratulated at home plate by Dinelson Lamet after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres' Rocky Gale hits a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws a pitch to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dinelson Lamet throws a pitch to a Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb is congratulated at the dugout by Chris Herrmann after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb is congratulated by Tony Perezchica as he rounds third base after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres Christian Villanueva is congratulated by Rocky Gale at home plate after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres' Christian Villanueva watches his home run as he rounds the bases during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher J.J. Hoover looks on from the mound as San Diego Padres' Christian Villanueva rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres' Hunter Renfroe is congratulated by Glenn Hoffman as he rounds third base after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres' Hunter Renfroe is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres' Hunter Renfroe is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws to a San Diego Padres batter during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres' Christian Villanueva points to the sky as he reaches home plate after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dinelson Lamet looks on from the mound as Arizona Diamondbacks' J.D. Martinez rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks J.D. Martinez points to the sky in front of San Diego Padres catcher Rocky Gale as he reaches home plate after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Herrmann looks back as he heads home on a double by David Peralta during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock and Jake Lamb celebrate at home plate after scoring on a single by Archie Bradley. as umpire Sam Holbrook watches during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez) Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock looks back as he heads home on a two-run single by Archie Bradley during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)

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