Padres lose to Diamondbacks, miss opportunity to secure top Wild Card spot

San Diego Padres starter Casey Mize ran into trouble with the first pitch of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Leadoff man Lars Nootbaar connected with the first-pitch offering from Mize and sent it over the wall in right field to give the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead. Mize continued to struggle throughout his outing, allowing seven runs over four innings and the Padres dropped the series opener at Petco Park, 11-4.

Mize continued to struggle in the first inning and allowed three runs before he could get out of the top half of the frame. Arizona was making solid contact against the San Diego starter and it continued throughout his time on the mound. Mize allowed a run in the second, two in the third and a run in the fourth and finished with seven runs allowed over four innings with two walks and a strikeout. He had problems keeping the ball in the yard and allowed two additional homers after the Nootbaar leadoff shot to start the game.

Padres pitchers continued to allow runs to the Diamondbacks and the visitors added three runs in the top of the sixth inning and a final run in the top of the seventh inning. San Diego tried to get something going in the game, and made the score 4-2 in the bottom half of the second inning. The Padres added runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the bottom of the eighth inning.

The San Diego offense could never find a rhythm, but Fernando Tatis Jr., Sung-Mun Song and Xander Bogaerts all had two hits in th game. Tatis was the only player on the San Diego roster to record an extra-base hit. The Padres finished 2-for-10 in the game with runners in scoring position.

The Padres missed an opportunity to secure the top spot in the National League Wild Card with a win, but they will have a second opportunity tonight when they play the the Diamondbacks at 5:40 p.m.

• Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune believes Padres manager Craig Stammen has done enough to earn recognition at the end of the year.

Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune believes Padres manager Craig Stammen has done enough to earn recognition at the end of the year.

• Ethan Salas might be the youngest player in MLB, but he is playing a significant role in San Diego’s push toward the top Wild Card spot in the National League.

Ethan Salas might be the youngest player in MLB, but he is playing a significant role in San Diego’s push toward the top Wild Card spot in the National League.

• The Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians are still trying to decide the AL Central and neither team is willing to give up ground.

The Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians are still trying to decide the AL Central and neither team is willing to give up ground.

• The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a shutout at a critical time of the year with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance.

The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a shutout at a critical time of the year with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance.

• The Houston Astros lost to the Athletics, which could prove costly in race for AL West crown.

The Houston Astros lost to the Athletics, which could prove costly in race for AL West crown.

• The Boston Red Sox dealt a blow to the Chicago Cubs’ pursuit of the top National League Wild Card spot with a two-game sweep.

The Boston Red Sox dealt a blow to the Chicago Cubs’ pursuit of the top National League Wild Card spot with a two-game sweep.