The Arizona Diamondbacks dropped the opener of their final regular-season series, falling to the San Diego Padres 5-3 on Friday night at Chase Field. With the loss, Arizona’s playoff destiny slipped from its control, leaving the D-backs reliant on help from other teams to secure an NL Wild Card spot.
Early Struggles Set the Tone
Arizona’s night began on a sour note as starting pitcher Merrill Kelly gave up four runs in the first inning, setting the stage for a tough uphill battle.