PHOENIX — Kyle Higashioka, Brandon Lockridge and Donovan Solano homered in the ninth inning, lifting the San Diego Padres to a 5-0 win on Saturday night over the sliding Arizona Diamondbacks, who continued to lose ground in the National League playoff race.
The Diamondbacks (88-73) have lost five of six as they chase an NL wild card. They're currently behind the Braves (88-71) and Mets (87-72), who hold the final two playoff spots.
''It was just one of those nights,'' Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker said. "They executed well. You've got to tip you're hat, even if it's frustrating to say. There's two sides of it. Somebody else is doing their job when they're getting you out.
''We had some opportunities, but couldn't execute when it mattered.''
The game was scoreless heading into the ninth. With one out, San Diego's David Peralta singled up the middle and then Higashioka cranked a no-doubt, two-run homer deep into the left field stands.
''I was just looking for something down the middle and the slider kind of popped on him,'' Higashioka said. ''I recognized it early and luckily this one went over the fence.''
Lockridge followed with his first big league homer, which was also hit to left.
It was a stunning blowup for Diamondbacks left-hander A.J. Puk (4-9), who has been the team's most dominant reliever since he was acquired from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline. He had given up just one run over 27 innings over his 29 outings since coming to Arizona.
