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Padres rally again, but come up short vs D-backs, 8-7

PHOENIX (AP) — The San Diego Padres turned a rout into a nail-biter Saturday night but came up short in an 8-7 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Padres trailed 8-1 through five innings but rallied to cut the lead to one with one out and a runner on first base in the ninth. Arizona closer Brad Ziegler, however, got Alexi Amarista to hit into a game-ending double play.

PHOENIX (AP) — The San Diego Padres turned a rout into a nail-biter Saturday night but came up short in an 8-7 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Padres trailed 8-1 through five innings but rallied to cut the lead to one with one out and a runner on first base in the ninth. Arizona closer Brad Ziegler, however, got Alexi Amarista to hit into a game-ending double play.

"You've seen this year where we have innings where we can run off some runs, so we never quit," outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. said. "We pieced together some runs and brought it a little bit closer. We had some good ABs that last inning, especially against a guy who knows how to pitch, but we just fell a little bit short."

The Padres' struggles to beat Zack Greinke continued, as the Diamondbacks ace got the better of them once again. The four runs were the most ever for San Diego against Greinke, and the veteran right-hander improved to 7-1 in 14 career starts against the Padres.

"You want to get over the hump but when you are down 7-1 against Zack Greinke and you come back and make it an 8-7 game, there is a lot to carry over," Padres manager Andy Green said.

Paul Goldschmidt homered during a five-run second inning and Michael Bourn had three hits for Arizona. Goldschmidt also doubled and scored twice, and Bourn had a triple, a stolen base and two RBIs.

Arizona knocked starter Cesar Vargas out of the game in the second.

Greinke (6-3) gave up a solo home run to Matt Kemp in the first, then held the Padres scoreless until the sixth. He allowed four runs on six hits and won for the fourth time in five starts.

"Fastball was probably the best it's been all year," Greinke said. "Been pitching good the past month, been winning a lot of games, that's really all that matters. I probably pitched better today than in some other games where I've had better results."

Goldschmidt was robbed of a hit in the fourth when first baseman Wil Myers dived to his left to snare a line drive headed to right field.

Vargas (0-3) is winless in seven starts this season.

Three calls were overturned on replay review, including an apparent homer by Arizona's Chris Owings in the seventh that was changed to a double and an out call of Owings at third base on a steal attempt moments later. Owings was ruled safe.

THORNTON RETURNS

Padres left-handed reliever Matt Thornton was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list Saturday, and the club optioned Keith Hessler to Triple-A El Paso. Thornton made his first appearance of the season when he pitched the bottom of the seventh inning.

LONEY DEALT

The Padres acquired cash from the New York Mets in exchange for veteran first baseman James Loney, who has been playing at El Paso this season. Loney was last in the majors in 2015 with the Tampa Bay Rays.

KID OK

A little boy ended up with Padres catcher Derek Norris' bat after it flew into the stands on a swing and foul ball in the fifth inning. The bat whipped into the seats, but the boy and a woman with an infant sitting next to him were OK.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Segura went down in the box after Luis Perdomo's pitch appeared to graze the top of his helmet in the fourth inning. He was hit in the helmet with a pitch a few days earlier in Pittsburgh and was immediately checked by training staff. Originally it was ruled a hit by pitch but overturned on replay review, and Segura continued his at-bat.

UP NEXT

Padres: Drew Pomeranz (4-4) brings a 1.70 ERA into Sunday's start against Arizona. He had an 18-inning scoreless streak earlier this month.

Diamondbacks: Archie Bradley was called up from Triple-A Reno to start Sunday against San Diego, with Arizona sending reliever Dominic Leone to Reno to make room on the roster. Bradley (1-0) will be making his third start for Arizona. He is 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA with Reno.

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