Diamondbacks Crush Padres 11-1 in Spring Training Finale

Arizona's offense explodes with 16 hits and 4 home runs in dominant win over San Diego

Mar. 23, 2026 at 4:05am

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The Arizona Diamondbacks capped off their Cactus League schedule with an emphatic 11-1 victory over the San Diego Padres, powered by a strong offensive performance that included 16 hits and 4 home runs. Catcher Gabriel Moreno led the way with 2 home runs and a double, while outfielder Jorge Barrosa and infielder Ildemaro Vargas also went deep for the D-backs. The Arizona pitching staff held the Padres to just 5 hits and 2 walks, with the bullpen combining for 7 scoreless innings after opener John Curtiss set the tone early.

Why it matters

This lopsided win gives the Diamondbacks momentum heading into the final two exhibition games before the start of the regular season. The offensive outburst and solid pitching performance are encouraging signs for a team looking to build on last year's improvements and potentially challenge for a playoff spot in 2026.

The details

Gabriel Moreno paced the Diamondbacks' offense with a huge game, hitting 2 home runs and a double to finish the spring with 3 long balls. Jorge Barrosa and Ildemaro Vargas also went deep for Arizona, which pounded out 16 hits as a team. On the mound, opener John Curtiss set the tone with 2 scoreless innings, and the bullpen combined for 7 more shutout frames to limit the Padres to just 1 run on the day.

  • The Diamondbacks' Cactus League finale was played on March 23, 2026.
  • Arizona will next face the Cleveland Guardians in a pair of warm-up games at Chase Field starting on March 24, 2026.

The players

Gabriel Moreno

Diamondbacks catcher who hit 2 home runs and a double in the lopsided win over the Padres.

Jorge Barrosa

Diamondbacks outfielder who hit his 3rd home run of the spring in the victory.

Ildemaro Vargas

Diamondbacks infielder who also went deep in the team's 11-1 rout of the Padres.

John Curtiss

Diamondbacks pitcher who served as the opener, tossing 2 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts.

Merrill Kelly

Diamondbacks starting pitcher who is scheduled to take the mound in the team's next exhibition game against the Cleveland Guardians.

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What they’re saying

“We saved the best for last, that's for sure. The guys really put it all together today and it was great to see the offense clicking like that in our final Cactus League game.”

— Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks Manager

What’s next

The Diamondbacks will host the Cleveland Guardians in a pair of warm-up games at Chase Field on March 24, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 pm. Merrill Kelly is slated to start on the mound for Arizona in the first of those two exhibitions.

The takeaway

The Diamondbacks' dominant performance in their spring training finale is an encouraging sign for the team as they prepare for the start of the 2026 regular season. The offensive outburst and strong pitching effort suggest Arizona has the potential to build on last year's improvements and challenge for a playoff spot in the competitive NL West division.