The Padres got over a disheartening opener in Arizona, taking the next three games over the Diamondbacks, capped by a 6-1 win Sunday.
Yu Darvish improved to 15-7 with the victory, as he gave up just one hit in six innings of work while striking out eight.
The Friars staked him to a lead before he threw a pitch, thanks to Manny Machado, who drove his 29th home run of the year to left center following a walk to Juan Soto.
They added single runs in the third, fifth – a homer by Soto – eighth and ninth for a 6-0 lead. Arizona’s lone run came in the bottom of the ninth off reliever Adrian Morejon.
The win followed an offensive breakout Friday, when they prevailed 12-3, and a 2-0 shutout by Joe Musgrove and the bullpen Saturday.
Manager Bob Melvin told MLB.com that he saw a greater “sense of urgency” in his team after Thursday’s 4-0 loss.
“It feels way different now. It feels like we can beat anybody,” Soto noted to MLB. “We faced the best pitchers that that team has, and we beat them easy.”
The Padres, taking advantage of the Phillies’ four-game slide, moved up in the National League wild-card race. They hold the second spot, behind the Braves, leaving Philadelphia to battle it out with Milwaukee for the final slot.
After an off-day Monday, the Padres have a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it home stand, hosting the NL-Central leading St. Louis Cardinals and their heralded trio of veterans, Albert Pujols, who is about to retire, Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright.
They send Mike Clevinger to the mound Tuesday to face Wainwright. Blake Snell and Musgrove follow.