Diamondbacks rally, earn split with Padres

SAN DIEGO — The Diamondbacks departed Petco Park on Tuesday having won as many games as they have lost through six games this season. But in two games here, and in the series finale at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, they seemed to begin to make good on the promise of what their season could be.

Whether the Diamondbacks end up being a good team remains to be seen. But on the days when they play well, like they did during Tuesday’s 8-6 win, this much seems clear: They will be fun to watch.

They stole five bases, including a double-steal to score a run. They got good reads on the bases, advancing whenever possible. They worked counts and found their way on base, sometimes by holding their ground on hit by pitches. They made running catches, including one by right fielder Jake McCarthy in which he tumbled into the stands on a foul out.

The Diamondbacks rallied from a 5-1 deficit to come away with a series split. They scored three times in the sixth and four more in the eighth. They overcome another uncharacteristic start from right-hander Zac Gallen, who gave up five runs (four earned) in six innings. And, unlike the night before, their bullpen managed to lock down the victory, this time by giving the ball to right-hander Drey Jameson for a six-out save.

The Padres led, 5-4, when the fun began in the eighth. McCarthy led off with a single, reaching base for the fourth time in the game. He then stole second and moved to third on Alek Thomas’ ground out.

That was when Geraldo Perdomo dropped down a bunt to the right side, where first baseman Matt Carpenter clanked the play as McCarthy raced home with the tying run.

As it turned out, the Diamondbacks were just getting started. Perdomo stole second. Jose Herrera dropped a single into center, scoring Perdomo with the go-ahead run, then Herrera took second when pitcher Luis Garcia threw wild on a pickoff attempt.

It was 7-5 with runners on the corners when the Diamondbacks pulled off their most daring play of the day. Ketel Marte took off from first, and when catcher Austin Nola’s throw went to second, Josh Rojas departed from third, beating the throw home.

The Diamondbacks could have left here with a pair of victories. They fell three outs shy on Monday night, watching as reliever Scott McGough served up back-to-back homers to turn a potential one-run win into a crushing loss.

This time, the bullpen held firm, in part thanks to McCarthy. There were two on and two out in the eighth when Austin Nola lofted a fly ball down the left field line. McCarthy raced over and made the catch before tumbling head over heels into the stands. He held onto the ball.

The Padres got a run in the ninth on Trent Grisham’s solo homer, then brought the tying run to the plate with two out. But Jameson threw three consecutive sliders to Nelson Cruz, who swung and missed at all three.

(Earlier updates from the game):

D-Backs rally for three runs to pull within one of Padres

SAN DIEGO — The Diamondbacks put together a two-out rally in the top of the sixth inning, scoring three times to cut the Padres' lead to one. The Diamondbacks trailed, 5-4, after six innings.

After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Jake McCarthy (single) and Alek Thomas (walk) reached ahead of Geraldo Perdomo, who lined a double into right field that went off the glove of a sliding David Dahl.

Two runs scored on the play, and the Diamondbacks added another run when Josh Rojas shot a single into center to bring home Perdomo.

The Padres had added to their lead the previous half-inning when Xander Bogaerts knocked a Zac Gallen curveball into the left-field seats to make it 5-1.

Gallen bounced back by putting up a scoreless sixth, keeping it a one-run game.

D-Backs get on the board but still trail in San Diego

SAN DIEGO — Josh Rojas’ sacrifice fly to left field got the Diamondbacks their first run of the game on Tuesday afternoon, but they trailed the San Diego Padres, 3-1, after 4 1/2 innings.

Right-hander Zac Gallen gave up two runs in the fourth, an inning that began with a solo homer from Nelson Cruz.

Cruz entered the game as the designated hitter in place of Manny Machado, who was ejected after arguing a pitch clock violation in the first inning.

The Padres’ second run in the fourth came home on catcher Jose Herrera’s throwing error.

Padres nab early lead on Austin Nola’s RBI single

SAN DIEGO — The Diamondbacks trailed the Padres, 1-0, after three innings on Tuesday afternoon, as Austin Nola’s run-scoring single off right-hander Zac Gallen brought home Jake Cronenworth with the game’s only run.

The Diamondbacks have had plenty of chances against Padres right-hander Yu Darvish but thus far have been unable to capitalize. Josh Rojas started the game with a double to right but was stranded at third to end the first inning. The Diamondbacks drew three walks in the second but failed to score, in part because Jake McCarthy was cut down trying to steal.

Rojas again led off with a hit in the third inning, but he was erased on Ketel Marte’s double-play ball.

Nola’s hit came on a line drive up the middle that Marte could not keep in front of him on a backhanded attempt on a short hop.

Diamondbacks at Padres

When: 1:10 p.m., Tuesday.

Where: Petco Park, San Diego.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (0-1, 9.64) vs. Padres RHP Yu Darvish (16-8, 3.10)*.

TV/Radio: Bally Sports Arizona/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Gallen gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Dodgers on Thursday, saying later he might have tired early in part because of how hard -- and fast, thanks to the pitch clock -- he had to work during a 27-pitch third inning. … Gallen owns a 3.98 ERA against the Padres in his career. They were one of the few teams he did not post stellar numbers against last year, when he logged a 4.96 ERA in three starts. … Darvish will be making his first start of the season. He had his debut pushed back because of his participation in the World Baseball Classic. … Darvish, 36, received a six-year, $108 million extension from the Padres in February. … He faced the Diamondbacks five times last season, posting a 1.97 ERA with 12 walks and 31 strikeouts in 32 innings.

*-Stats from 2022.

Monday recap:Diamondbacks' new pen fails in familiar fashion in loss to Padres

Coming up

Wednesday: Off.

Thursday: At Chase Field, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (0-0, 0.00) vs. Dodgers RHP Dustin May (0-0, 0.00).

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Madison Bumgarner (0-1, 11.25) vs. Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 1.50).

Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zach Davies (0-0, 1.80) vs. Dodgers RHP Noah Syndergaard (0-0, 1.50).

More:Madison Bumgarner’s arm checks out ‘fine’ after MRI, Torey Lovullo says

Diamondbacks vs. Padres TV information

The game can be seen on Bally Sports Arizona in Arizona and Bally Sports San Diego in San Diego.

It can also be streamed on the Bally Sports app.