The San Diego Padres got off to a nice start against the Arizona Diamondbacks when Franchy Cordero drove in two runs with a first-inning double. They did not score again.
But they did strike out 10 times, four of them by first baseman Eric Hosmer, in a 6-2 loss at Chase Field on Saturday night.
Clayton Richard started for San Diego and kept them in the game. Richard allowed three runs and struck out six in five innings but when Arizona outfielder A.J. Pollock smacked a solo home run in the third inning, the game was already out of reach.
The Padres had at least one baserunner in every inning except the fifth and eighth but could not figure out a way to get a hit when they needed it. Two runners were thrown out on the bases and the game ended when Carlos Asuaje (who had two hits) grounded into a double play.
San Diego can win the series against the first-place Diamondbacks on Sunday with rookie lefty Joey Lucchesi on the mound against fellow southpaw Patrick Corbin.
Speaking of rookies, the Padres are expected to call up left-handed starter Eric Lauer to make his Major League debut on Tuesday against the Rockies in Colorado. They will have to make a move to clear up space on their 40-man roster to do that, which means either outrighting someone to the minor leagues or designating a player for assignment.
One possible candidate for that is veteran third baseman Chase Headley, who had a pinch-hit single to move his average up to .103. The Friars would still be on the hook for his $13-million contract but they might consider eating that money for the chance to give another of their prospects more playing time.
Before Saturday's game, the Padres activated outfielder Manuel Margot from the disabled list and placed outfielder Hunter Renfroe on the 10-day DL with a right elbow inflammation.
