SAN DIEGO - The Diamondbacks did not eliminate themselves Saturday. They did narrow the math to a single combination.
Arizona lost 10-7 to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, Reuters and the Associated Press reported, ending a six-game winning streak. Manny Machado's three-run homer in the fourth gave San Diego a lead it did not surrender. The Padres improved to 90-71 and locked up home-field advantage for a National League wild-card series against the Chicago Cubs beginning Tuesday.
The D-backs fell to 86-75. Philadelphia sits at 87-74 after a 12-1 loss to Tampa Bay the same day. That leaves Arizona one game out of the final NL wild-card berth with one game left - and with a clear requirement.
Two results, or nothing
Sporting News and CBS Sports spelled out the only path: Arizona must beat the Padres on Sunday, and the Phillies must lose at home to the Rays. A Diamondbacks win alone is not enough if Philadelphia also wins. A Phillies loss alone is not enough if Arizona loses again.
The clubs split their season series. If they finish tied, Arizona owns the tiebreaker on intradivision record, CBS Sports reported. That is why the D-backs can still leapfrog with a matching 87-75 finish. It is also why Philadelphia can clinch with a single win or a single Arizona defeat.
Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, speaking after Saturday's loss, told reporters the club would keep controlling what it can control, CBS Sports reported. Manager Torey Lovullo said the approach for the finale would match any other day: intent, focus, and a design to win the game in front of them.
Soroka gets the ball with help already secured across the diamond
Michael Soroka (9-5, 3.31 ERA) is scheduled to start Sunday against Padres right-hander Randy Vasquez (10-6, 4.01), per CBS Sports. In his last outing Tuesday at Colorado, Soroka allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits over seven innings with nine strikeouts in a 7-2 win. Lovullo called him consistent and dependable.
Soroka is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in four career appearances against San Diego; Machado is 0-for-8 with three strikeouts against him in that sample, the same report noted.
San Diego's incentive has shifted. With the No. 4 seed and home wild-card games already secured, manager Craig Stammen said some regulars would rest while insisting every player in the lineup remains capable, CBS Sports reported. Machado, who hit his 30th homer and the 399th of his career Saturday, was among the candidates for a day off after playing 157 games.
