McCarthy, Goldschmidt lift D-backs over Padres 6-1

[August 27, 2013]  PHOENIX (AP) -- Brandon McCarthy turned in seven strong innings, and Paul Goldschmidt drove in two runs to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 6-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

After a shaky first inning, the 6-foot-7 McCarthy (3-8) allowed only four runners over his final six innings. It was his first win since he beat San Diego on May 28. His other victory was a shutout at Miami on May 18.

McCarthy lasted only into the third inning in his previous start, a 10-7 loss to the Reds. He allowed seven runs and eight hits in 2 1-3 innings.

Goldschmidt stretched his NL-leading RBI total to 103 with his first triple of the season and a ground out. He is the most RBIs for an Arizona hitter since Luis Gonzalez drove in 104 in 2003.

After Will Venable and Alexi Amarista opened the game with singles, Yonder Alonso hit a grounder wide of first. Goldschmidt fielded the ball and threw to second to force Amarista, but shortstop Didi Gregorius' throw to first was wide and beyond McCarthy, who was covering the bag. Venable scored the unearned run.

But that was all the Padres would get against McCarthy and Eury De La Rosa, who pitched a perfect final two innings.

Between the first inning and when he left the game, McCarthy allowed a one-out single in the third to Venable, a two-out single in the fourth to Chase Headley and a two-out single to opposing pitcher Tyson Ross (3-7) in the fifth. He hit Jedd Gyroko with a pitch with two out in the sixth.

Though his pitch count was 58 through four innings, McCarthy was more efficient in the later innings. He threw 93 pitches in seven innings.

Adam Eaton was hit by a pitch to open the fourth, and Goldschmidt hit a twisting drive into the right field corner that hit off the fence.

Martin Prado then followed with a sacrifice fly to give Arizona a 2-1 lead. Prado's grounder to third with the bases loaded in the sixth was booted by Headley. Two more runs scored to make it 4-1.

In the seventh, Goldschmidt grounded into a force play with the bases loaded, scoring Aaron Hill.

NOTES: Former Arizona right-hander Ian Kennedy faces his former teammates for the first time Tuesday night. In his four starts with San Diego, Kennedy is 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA. The Arizona starter is undecided. ... The Padres had won five of their past six games at Arizona. . Padres CF Reymond Fuentes made his major league debut and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. ... The crowd of 16,871 was the Diamondbacks' smallest at home this season.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.