The Padres offense came crashing down back to earth in the desert, managing only two runs in three games over the weekend. They also had only managed two earned runs in the last 31 innings dating back to Orlando Hudson’s run-scoring triple in the sixth inning against San Francisco last Wednesday. Hudson was of course responsible for the other earned run, a solo homer in the third game on Sunday at Chase Field.

The Padres will hope to stop this four-game skid with a three game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles starting Monday.

Below is a recap of the series against the first place Diamondbacks.

August 26^th, 2011 Diamondbacks 5, Padres 0

WP Josh Colmenter (8-8) 5.1IP 6H 0R 0ER 0BB 1K 0HR

LP Wade LeBlanc (2-3) 4IP 7H 5R 4ER 2BB 2K 0HR

Every now and then you get a game that where it seems near impossible to get the first three outs, you don’t even want to think about the last 24. Friday night’s bottom half of the first was just that for the Padres.

Willie Bloomquist led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Bloomquist then took off for third as Brian Roberts struck out. Nick Hundley ‘s throw to third base deflected of the bat of Roberts and went towards the stands near the third base side, allowing Bloomquist to score.

Justin Upton then hit a bloop double to left-center about a foot past the glove of a diving Kyle Blanks. Upton then was brought around by a line drive single by Cris Young, putting the Diamondbacks up by a pair.

Paul Goldschidt then hit a bloop single off the glove of a diving Will Venable, putting runners at first and second. Then with both runners stealing, Hundley opted to throw the ball to second. But the ball went off the back off Goldschmidt into left field allowing Young to score on Hundley’s second error of the inning.

Aaron Hill then hit a bloop double to left field to give the D-Backs a four run lead.

LeBlanc was able to get the next two batters to ground out to finally end the nightmare inning.

The Diamondbacks scored another run in the second inning when Jesus Guzman dropped a would be third out at first base, after Chris Young grounded to Logan Forsythe, allowing Josh Collmenter to score.

The Padres did not do much on the offensive end as they went 0-6 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine men on base.

But Cameron Maybin mad  a fine running catch in the fifth and absolutely amazing grab leaping cleat-first up on the centerfield wall to snag a deep hit off the bat of Nick Goldschmidt in the seventh.

August 27^th, 2011 Diamondbacks 3, Padres 1

WP Joe Saunders (9-11) 7IP 4H 1R 0ER 1BB 3K 0HR

LP Aaron Harang (12-4) 6IP 7H 3R 2ER 1BB 8K 1HR

S J.J. Putz (33) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 1K 0HR

Joe Saunders was outstanding for Arizona, allowing only an unearned run to the Padres as he led the Diamondbacks to a 3-1 victory. Saunders allowed only four hits in his seven inning of work. After walking Jesus Guzman to start the seventh, he induced a routine fly ball to Justin Upton in right field that was dropped by Arizona’s All-Star centerfielder, putting Friars at first and second.

After two quick outs by Orlando Hudson and Aaron Cunningham, Will Venable knocked in Guzman with a RBI (31) single to get the Padres on the board.

Arizona scored first for the second straight game, this time on Chris Young’s two-run homer (19) in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Miguel Montero.

Arizona added another with a couple of two out-base hits by Pau Goldschmidt and Young in the bottom of the sixth, putting runners at the corners. With AaRon Hill at the plate, Aaron Harang then threw the ball away on a pickoff attempt to first, allowing Goldschmidt to score and Young to advance to third. Hill then struck out to end the inning.

J.J. Putz then pitched a perfect ninth to end the game, earning his 33^rd save of the season.

August 28^th, 2011 Diamondbacks 6, Padres 1

WP Ian Kennedy (17-4) 7IP 6H 1R 1ER 0BB 7K 1HR

LP Cory Luebke (5-7) 5.1IP 6H 3R 3ER 3BB 5K 2HR

Cory Luebke had four straight wins in August, but was unable to make it five straight as he left in the sixth with the Padres trailing, 3-1. Arizona hit two homers against the Padres young, lefty handing him his first loss since losing to the Dodgers on August first.

The Padres took the lead for the first time of the series when Orlando Hudson hammered his fifth homerun of the season into the pool area in right-center, giving the Padres a 1-0 lead.

But the lead would be short-lived as Luebke gave up a two-out homer to Colin Cowgill, his first career big-fly, to tie the game, 1-1.

After a one-out double (21) by Ryan Roberts, Aaron Hill deposited a Luebke fastball into the left field stands for his first homer as a D-Back, giving Arizona a 3-1 lead.

Andy Parrino worked a full count before hittling an Ian Kennedy fastball into right field for his first major league hit.

Arizona tacked on three more in the eighth. Colin Cowgill doubled (1) in Paul Goldschmidt from second with one out. A couple batters later, Ryan Roberts drew a bases loaded walk to put Arizona up four. Another run came in on an infield single by Aaron Hill to put the Diamondbacks up, 6-1.