Moreno's slam punctuates D-backs' pivotal sweep

SAN DIEGO -- The D-backs sold out to get the win in the first game of their doubleheader against the Padres on Saturday, and then for good measure, they found a way to steal a bullpen game with an 8-1 victory in the nightcap, sweeping San Diego to take three of four games in the series.

The two teams were originally scheduled to play just one game on Saturday, but with Hurricane Hilary bearing down on Southern California, they were forced to move Sunday¡¯s game up to Saturday.

The D-backs finished their seven-game road swing, which also included a stop in Denver, with a 5-2 record as they crept to within a half-game of the third NL Wild Card spot.

After a 7-25 stretch in which nothing seemed to go their way, the D-backs are rolling, having won seven of their past nine.

Arizona started co-ace Merrill Kelly in Game 1 and used high-leverage relievers Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald to lock down a 6-4 win.

In Game 2, the D-backs started former closer Scott McGough, who managed to toss 2 1/3 scoreless innings before Bryce?Jarvis, Peter Strzelecki and Justin Martinez held the Padres to just one run the rest of the way.

¡°Every game matters,¡± D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. ¡°Wins are really, really important right now, and the guys have been fantastic at doing some of the little things.¡±

It was a nip-and-tuck game through six with the D-backs leading, 4-1, but catcher Gabriel Moreno changed that when he hit his first career grand slam in the seventh off reliever Nick Martinez.

¡°It was an unbelievable feeling,¡± Moreno said. ¡°It¡¯s hard to describe. I was just super happy and was breaking into smiles as I was running the bases.¡±

It gave the D-backs an 8-1 advantage, their first lead of seven or more runs since June 19 -- and the first time they¡¯ve won a game by more than four runs since that same day.

¡°The feeling that I had in the dugout after Gabi hit the home run, it was a collective exhale,¡± Lovullo said. ¡°A 4-1 game, we've been riding that train for a long time and we've been grinding out some very close games. I think our guys are conditioned to execute under those circumstances, but an 8-1 game was a big blow. It was a big hit. It was a sigh of relief and I felt the entire dugout exhale at that point in time.¡±

Moreno has been hitting the ball well since coming off a three-week stint on the injured list on Aug. 13. He is 7-for-21 over that time with a pair of homers.

¡°The little break that I took, I was able to clear my mind and go back to the basics or the principles of my strengths as a hitter,¡± Moreno said. ¡°And I¡¯m able now to have a much simpler approach and it¡¯s actually paid off.¡±

The D-backs now head home where they¡¯ll have an off-day on Sunday before opening a two-game series with the Rangers on Monday.