Gallen, Walker help Diamondbacks end 9-game skid with 3-0 victory over Padres #Gallen #Walker #Diamondbacks #9game #skid #victory #Padres

PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Walker hit a two-run homer, Zac Gallen pitched six strong innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks snapped a nine-game losing streak by beating the San Diego Padres 3-0 on Saturday night.

The D-backs hope the win can get them trending in the right direction of the playoff hunt after an extended freefall. Arizona is three games back for the final wild-card spot in the National League.

The Padres lost for the fifth time in six games.

Gallen (12-5) delivered an excellent outing, giving up four hits and a walk while striking out eight. It ended a rough stretch for Arizona’s ace — the team had lost five straight games with the right-hander on the mound before Saturday.

Tommy Pham had two doubles, including one in the first inning that scored Corbin Carroll for a 1-0 lead. Walker extended the lead to 3-0 in the third with his 24th homer, a two-run, opposite field shot that cleared the right-field fence.

Walker finished with three hits. Paul Sewald earned his first save since coming to the desert in a trade deadline deal with the Seattle Mariners.

Rich Hill (7-12) lasted just 3 1/3 innings in his second start with the Padres after being acquired from the Pirates on Aug. 1. The 43-year-old gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four.

San Diego finished with just five hits, including three by Manny Machado.

25TH ANNIVERSARY

The Diamondbacks celebrated their 25th season as a franchise Saturday. They played their first season — along with fellow expansion team Tampa Bay — in 1998.

Arizona were the fastest expansion team to win a World Series, winning in their fourth season in 2001. The D-backs have won the NL West five times in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2011 and last made the playoffs as a wild card in 2017.

Dozens of former players came back for a pregame ceremony on the field, including Luis Gonzalez and Randy Johnson, who will be inducted into the team’s newly established Hall of Fame in 2024.