Returning from suspension with a towering three-run blast, the veteran outfielder ignited a dominant shutout over the San Diego Padres to propel the Arizona Diamondbacks back to .500.
The Arizona Diamondbacks blanked the San Diego Padres 8-0 on Monday night to improve to 45-45.
This is a crucial series that will determine who sits in second place in the National League West, a division that doesn't have a single team remotely close to the level the Los Angeles Dodgers are playing.
That said, the Diamondbacks certainly show signs of life. They dominated the Padres in game one, but this is a four-game slate that will determine where this team truly is heading into the All-Star break.
Starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt did his thing, and the bullpen followed with four solid innings. Offensively, this team racked up eight runs on 11 hits, highlighted by outfielder Max Kepler's first home run since September 28, 2025.
Welcome Back, Kepler
Kepler officially returned to the Diamondbacks on June 25, 2026, after he was suspended 80 games for a positive test for Epitrenbolone. The 33-year-old learned the hard way the affects of using performance enhancing drugs, but now all of that is behind him.
"I think it was just what we needed, one swing of the bat," Kepler said, according to ESPN. "I'm ready to go, to swing, to hack."
Manager Torey Lovullo chimed in, "The Kepler three-run home run was clearly the big blow in this game. When it left the bat it was very clear to everybody that it would be a homer. It was nice to see him get off the ground and hit his first homer (with Arizona)."
Kepler's home run was part of a four-run third inning for the Diamondbacks, one that saw them jump out to an early 6-0 lead. After that point, the Padres had no answers, and Arizona even added an insurance run in both the fourth and sixth innings.
The Lefty Isn't Going Anywhere
After his 417-foot bomb in the series opener, it's clear Kepler finally has his feet under him, and Lovullo credits "an unbelievably early BP" for that being the case.
Kepler added, "I was just a little excited that I hit a home run today. Everything was kind of blurry. I'll try and slow everything down next time,"
"Given my situation, coming in halfway through the season, I am patient with myself. I am grateful once I get to step onto the field. I am grateful I get to play this game," Kepler said.
The 12-year veteran has now hit 180 career homers in 4201 at-bats. His career high was 36 back in 2019, and he's coming off an 18 home run season with the Philadelphia Phillies.
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