The Diamondbacks wrapped up their Cactus League play in style, delivering a commanding 11-1 victory over the Padres. Gabriel Moreno was the standout performer, launching two home runs and a double, bringing his spring total to three homers.
Jorge Barrosa and Ildemaro Vargas also contributed to the long-ball tally, with Barrosa hitting his third and Vargas his second of the spring. The D-backs' offense was relentless, racking up sixteen hits.
Ryan Waldschmidt joined Moreno in the three-hit club, while Barrosa added a single to his homer. Ben McLaughlin showcased patience at the plate, drawing two walks, as Arizona closed their preseason with an impressive 7-1-1 run over the last nine games.
On the mound, the Diamondbacks' pitching staff matched the hitters' prowess, limiting the Padres to just five hits and two walks. It was a bullpen showcase, starting with John Curtiss, who set the tone with two scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing just one walk.
Brandyn Garcia found his groove, striking out two of the three batters he faced. The only blemish came from Juan Morillo, who surrendered a solo home run in the fourth.
After that, Shawn Dubin, Yilber Diaz, Logan Mercado, and Taylor Rashi combined to keep the Padres scoreless, securing the win for Arizona.
Next up, the Diamondbacks head back to Chase Field for two warm-up games against the Cleveland Guardians. Merrill Kelly is set to start the first game, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:40 pm. Fans can look forward to seeing if Arizona can carry this momentum into the regular season.