The San Diego Padres lost their fifth straight game on Thursday night. After a three-game sweep against the Los Angeles Angels, the Padres returned home but fell short against the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-3.

With the Padres down just one run in the bottom of the ninth, they somehow got two guys on base with two outs and were on the verge of tying the game up. However, the game ended as Jake Cronenworth was called out looking at strike three in a very controversial call by the umpire.

The ball was high and outside, which certainly didn't go well with Cronenworth and the Padres fans.

After the game, Padres manager Mike Shildt was clearly frustrated about the way things ended (h/t Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune).

“You’d like to have a chance to actually end the game on your own terms. I respect the umpiring profession highly, and I don’t complain a lot. But I got guys busting their a**es all night. I got a guy with a little mild strain with his hip flexor, but he shows up and is willing to take an at-bat, try to win us a ballgame. I got guys playing their a**es off all over the field, competing their tails off. Croney is in a dogfight there at the end against their closer. We get a guy on base, Pro works a walk, steals a bag, gets a chance to tie the game.”

It was a tough turn of events and something that needs to be looked at. The call was questionable by all means and prevented the Padres from being able to tie it, or even win it.

Padres struggles continue with fifth straight loss 

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt (8) looks on against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning at Chase Field.
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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The Padres ended the month of May with four wins in their last five games and then defeated the Kansas City Royals on the first day of June. Since then, they have not won a game.

On a positive note, if there is one, they have battled and have been close in all five losses. They have lost four of the five games by one run and the other one by two runs, so that's something.

Unfortunately, injuries have hit the Padres hard lately. They placed Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove on the IL and Manny Machado suffered an injury during the Angels series and was unable to start on Thursday. However, Machado did get a pinch-hit opportunity in the eighth inning.

After the game against the Diamondbacks, Machado gave a brief update, per Acee.

“Hitting felt good. Feels a lot better right now.”

The Padres are back below the .500 mark, which could cause GM A.J. Preller to turn up the dial even more on the trade front. The face the Diamondbacks for three more games before another three home games against the Oakland Athletics.