SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Arizona Diamondbacks had a plan against San Diego’s Jered Weaver. They stuck to it and cruised to an easy win Friday night.
Jake Lamb had two home runs and five RBIs as the Diamondbacks coasted after an eight-run first inning to crush the Padres 10-1.
“We knew he wasn’t going to beat us with his fastball,” said Arizona’s Brandon Drury, who also homered. “So we weren’t going to try and do too much.”
Taijuan Walker (4-3) was the beneficiary of the 16-hit attack as Arizona won its fourth straight. Walker, who had lost his last two starts, pitched six scoreless innings and was charged with two hits. He walked three and struck out three.
“It defiantly helps,” Walker said of his early cushion. “But I wasn’t happy with myself with three walks. Any times the offense puts up eight runs in the first, you have to be more aggressive.”
The Padres threatened Walker just once when having two runners on in the second. Otherwise Walker and Randall Delgado breezed through the Padres, limiting them to a ninth-inning run and four hits. Delgado earned his first save.
“I thought out pitchers did a great job,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.
It was San Diego’s most lopsided loss of the season as it dropped its fourth straight and ninth of its last 11 games. The Padres fell to 4-13 in May.
“It’s rough, I don’t think there’s any other way to say it,” Padres manager Andy Green said.
Four Diamondbacks players had multiple hits, including Walker, and Chris Owings had three. Every starter had a hit, except for Paul Goldschmidt - who walked twice in four plate appearances before being lifted.
Jered Weaver (0-5) had the shortest non-injury start of his 12-year career. Weaver got just two outs in surrendering seven runs, five hits and two walks.
Lamb hit his 10th homer of the season in the first, a three-run blast off Weaver’s 81 mph fastball. Two batters later Drury’s two-run shot came on a 76 mph changeup.
The Diamondbacks sent 14 batters to the plate, with Weaver being yanked after allowing a hit to Walker when Arizona batted around in collecting six hits and five walks.
For Weaver, who was jeered when leaving the mound, it was another unsightly outing from someone trying to extend his career. Weaver spent his first 11 years with the Los Angeles Angels where he was a three-time All-Star, won 150 games and threw a no-hitter.
“It’s hard to go out there and struggle the way I have been,” Weaver said. “It’s not easy - 330 starts in my career and it’s the first time I’ve ever been booed off the mound, so it’s definitely frustrating.”
He’s attempting to survive with a fastball in the low 80s and secondary pitches which are fooling few. Weaver, who’s ERA is 7.44, has served up 16 home runs. That ties him for the most in the majors with the Houston Astros’ Mike Fiers.
“They have a good lineup over there and I just couldn’t trick anybody,” Weaver said. “That’s about all it boils down to.”
Weaver has been charged with 26 runs - 21 earned - in his last four starts. He promises to keep grinding away.
“Keep showing up to the field and grinding,” he said. “Is that OK?”
Lamb’s second homer in the sixth came off Craig Stammen, He has homered in three straight games for the second time in his career and it was during his seven-game hitting streak.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: C Chris Iannetta (concussion) is expected to be removed from the DL on Saturday.
Padres: OF Alex Dickerson (back) has begun the running portion of his rehabilitation.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (2-3, 4.57) tries to rebound from two shaky starts at Petco Park, where he struck out a career-high 13 last year in a win. That’s the only victory Ray has over the Padres in five decisions.
Padres: RHP Luis Perdomo (0-0, 4.19) set a franchise mark in his last outing, his sixth straight to start a season without a decision. Perdomo has beaten Arizona three times, his most wins over any team.
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