Ildemaro Vargas had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks overcame a six-run deficit to beat the San Diego Padres 12-7 for a split of the short two-game Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu on Sunday.
The D-Backs trailed 6-0 after Manny Machado’s second homer, a three-run shot in the fifth, before scoring 10 runs in their final two bat-bats while batting around in the seventh and eighth.
Tim Tawa triggered a six-run seventh with his first career grand slam, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. capped it with a two-run single to give the D-Backs their first lead, 8-7
Vargas had a bases-loaded triple to ignite a four-run eighth inning and scored on a Ketel Marte single to close the scoring.
Vargas’ homer in the sixth extended his season-opening hitting streak to 20 games, and he doubled and scored in the seventh. He has the longest active hitting streak in the majors and is tied with Pablo Sandoval for the longest in the majors since 2012. He has a 23-game hitting streak dating to 2025.
Jose Fernandez had three hits including a homer and Gurriel, Alek Thomas and Nolan Arenado had two hits apiece for the D-Backs, who had lost four of five. They were the designated home team.
Luis Campusano doubled and homered and Jackson Merrill had two hits for the Padres, who had won 13 of 15.
Machado’s two-run homer off Ryne Nelson in the third gave the Padres a 3-0 lead following Campusano’s RBI double in the second,. Campusano went deep in the sixth gave San Diego a 7-2 lead.
Padres starter Michael King gave up three hits and two runs in six innings, with eight strikeouts and one walk. He fanned seven of the first nine batters he faced.
Fernandez, Arenado and Thomas singled off David Morgan with one out to open the D-Backs’ seventh with one out, and Tawa followed with a 363-foot shot to left, a homer in 15 major league parks, according to Statcast.
Bradgley Rodriguez (0-1) entered and gave up a double to Vargas and a two-out walk to Corbin Carroll before Gurriel grounded a two-run double inside the bag at third.
Ryan Thompson (2-0) gave up two hits in the seventh.
Nelson allowed six runs on seven hits in five innings, with four strikeouts and two walks. He has given up 14 runs in his last two starts over 5 1/3 innings.
Arizona catcher Adrian Del Castillo was replaced by James McCann in the third inning after suffering a dislocated left ring finger when his glove was struck by Jackson Merrill foul tip.
