Padres beat Diamondbacks 5-1 to close within a game in NL wild-card raceBy Canadian Press on August 6, 2026. San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. gets ready to hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug 6, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. gets ready to hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug 6, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)PHOENIX (AP) — Jackson Merrill and Ty France both had two hits and an RBI, four relievers combined for five scoreless innings and the San Diego Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 on Thursday night to improve their position in the National League playoff race. The Padres — who have a 12-8 record since the All-Star break — moved a game behind the D-backs for the third and final wild-card spot.