Diamondbacks Fall to Padres in Playoff Bid

The Arizona Diamondbacks lost to the San Diego Padres 5-3, which diminished their chances of securing a Wild Card playoff spot, as they now rely on other teams for help. Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly struggled, giving up four runs in the first inning, exacerbated by defensive errors from Ketel Marte. Despite a resilient effort that included a solo home run from Corbin Carroll, the D-backs finished 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities. The Padres now lead the 12-game season series 6-5, with the teams set to face off again. The Diamondbacks, ranked first in offense this season, will send Eduardo Rodriguez to the mound next, while the Padres counter with Randy Vasquez. As the season winds down, the stakes are high for Arizona, needing to perform in the remaining games to keep their playoff hopes alive.