PHOENIX —
Even before the Diamondbacks scored four runs in the eighth inning to beat the Padres 6-3 Friday night at Chase Field, Eric Lauer would not have considered the evening a success.
The first game of the season’s finale series held little purpose beyond playing out the prescribed number of games and seeing whether Lauer could continue his run off relative success near sea level and deliver another strong start by a young pitcher looking to leave a good impression going into the offseason.
Lauer’s final start of the season ended after 4 2/3 innings when he walked Christian Walker with the bases loaded.