PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona Diamondbacks’ first three-game series sweep of the San Diego Padres in more than five years had good timing.
The Diamondbacks edged the Padres 3-2 on pinch hitter Phil Gosselin’s RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning to complete the sweep in the season finale and keep Arizona from last place in the NL West, which fell to San Diego.
Tuffy Gosewich doubled against the Padres’ Brad Hand (4-4) after two fly outs, then was replaced by pinch-runner Socrates Brito. Gosselin lined his winning hit up the middle to end the game.
“It isn’t easy, especially the last day. Guys’ minds are going everywhere,” Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. “For them to really bear down in a close game and keep fighting, make pitches, get key hits. It was very exciting to get three wins. It was something we talked about on Friday. ’We have a chance to move in front of these guys. Let’s see if we can do it.’ We did it. Mission accomplished.”
The Diamondbacks finished with 69 wins - 10 fewer than last season - in a year with higher expectations. They edged the Padres by a game in the division standings.
“It leaves you with a little bit better feeling going into the offseason,” Gosselin said.
Reliever Daniel Hudson (3-2) earned the win in what could be his last season as a Diamondback, as he becomes a free agent after joining Arizona midway through 2010.
“That was a cool moment. I wanted to get in there,” Hudson said, his eyes welling up with tears.
The Padres thought they took the lead in the top of the ninth when Ryan Schimpf’s fly ball down the right-field line was originally called a home run. But after a video review, it was ruled a foul ball.
“I really didn’t see much. Hoping they would call it fair,” Schimpf, who hit 20 home runs after starting the season at Triple-A, said. “We’d like to see it cross around the pole but definitely the replay showed it was foul.”
Brandon Drury’s two-out home run off Hand tied the score 2-2 in the eighth. Hand had worked scoreless relief in 61 of 81 games this season.
Luis Sardinas doubled home Austin Hedges, who’d doubled with one out, off Arizona reliever Steve Hathaway in the seventh. That gave the Padres a 2-1 lead.
Arizona had a chance to tie in the bottom of the seventh when Mitch Haniger singled and took second on a sacrifice. Pinch hitter Kyle Jensen lined a single to left that was dropped by Padres left fielder Alex Dickerson, but Haniger was being held up at third base and had to stay there.
Jean Segura, who entered the game batting .408 in his last 18 games, grounded into a double play to end the threat.
Drury came home on a force out in the third inning to give the Diamondbacks the early lead. The Padres tied it at 1 in the fourth on Hunter Renfroe’s two-out double to drive in Wil Myers.
Matt Koch, making his second career major league start, allowed a run and five hits in six innings, striking out three without a walk for the Diamondbacks. The Padres’Paul Clemens struck out seven and walked two in six innings of four-hit ball.
SEGURA HOPES FOR WBC CALL
Segura ended up with a .319 batting average and became the first Arizona player to lead the NL in hits with 203 this season. Asked if he’d be welcome the chance to play for his native Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic next March, Segura smiled.
“If they invite me, I’m going to because it’s a great experience representing your country,” Segura said. “You don’t know where you’re going to be in four more years. Life is so short, you don’t know when you go. So you have to take the opportunity to play today. To be a part of that is a privilege, it’s an honor.”
THANKING THE FANS
Diamondbacks players and coaches came out of the dugout before the bottom of the fifth inning and doffed their caps to the crowd in appreciation. The team drew just over two million fans in attendance over 81 home dates this season.
ENBERG’S FAREWELL
Before the third inning began, the Diamondbacks paid tribute to Padres broadcaster Dick Enberg, who called his last game on Sunday. Enberg has won 14 Emmys and nine Sportscaster of the Year awards, among many other honors, over his long career calling baseball and other sports. He acknowledged the crowd of 31,385 with a wave and fist pump as fans cheered and applauded.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.