The San Diego Padres secured a 5-0 victory on Saturday night against the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks. Kyle Higashioka, Brandon Lockridge, and Donovan Solano each hit home runs in the ninth inning, turning a scoreless game into a commanding win for the Padres. The Diamondbacks have been facing a losing streak, with five losses in their last six games, putting their National League playoff hopes in jeopardy.

The Diamondbacks, with a record of 88-73, are currently behind the Braves and Mets in the NL wild card race. Their once high-scoring offense was held to just two hits in the game. San Diego’s spectacular ninth-inning performance was devastating for Diamondbacks left-hander A.J. Puk, who had been a solid reliever since joining the team from the Miami Marlins.

San Diego’s Randy Vásquez had a stellar performance, pitching six scoreless innings and taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Arizona. The Padres’ victory secured their spot in the No. 4 position in the NL playoff bracket. Padres manager Mike Shildt decided to rest several regular players in preparation for the upcoming Wild Card Series.

Luis Arraez of the Padres, a contender for the NL batting title, sat out the game to maintain his lead in the batting race against Shohei Ohtani and Marcell Ozuna. The Diamondbacks’ Eduardo Rodriguez pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings before the Padres’ offense exploded in the ninth inning.

With the regular season wrapping up, the Padres will start Martín Pérez in Sunday’s game, while the Diamondbacks have yet to announce their starting pitcher. Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim will miss the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury, ending his impressive year with the team.

Overall, the Padres’ offense shone bright in the late innings, securing a decisive win over the Diamondbacks and boosting their confidence heading into the playoffs. The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, face an uphill battle to secure a spot in the NL playoffs as their losses continue to pile up.