By Nick Piecoro | Arizona Republic
For the last time in weeks, the Diamondbacks faced one of baseball’s bottom-feeders on Tuesday night and did what they were supposed to do. Given their upcoming schedule, it had the feel of a breezy late afternoon before a monsoon descends.
In beating the last-place San Diego Padres 6-0 at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks snapped a four-game skid and managed to keep pace with the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Both division rivals won their respective games, meaning the Diamondbacks remain 1 1/2 games back of the Rockies and a half-game back of the Dodgers.
“When you lay down the entire body of work,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said, “we’re in a really good spot.”
That’s one way of looking at it. With seven games remaining against the Rockies and three left against the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks are, in fact, in a good spot. They are within striking distance. They won’t need anyone’s help to regain the lead in the division. They’re competing against teams that, like themselves, have exhibited flaws for long stretches throughout the season.
BOX SCORE: Diamondbacks 6, Padres 0
