Headley's 2 HRs, 4 RBIs lead Padres to 6-5 win

Headley hit a three-run homer while batting right-handed in the third inning and then hit the go-ahead homer batting left-handed.

Headley is seeing the ball well from both sides of the plate.

"That's s a constant battle for a switch-hitter," Headley said. "Usually you don't feel good from both sides of the plate. It's usually one side and odds are you're going to face the side that you don't feel very good at — usually. To have both swings going pretty well, it's kind of a rare thing but it's definitely nice."

Coming off an August in which he had 10 homers and 31 RBIs to win NL Player of the Month honors, Headley extended his career highs to 26 home runs and 98 RBIs. He has four homers and 15 RBIs in six September games.

After the Diamondbacks rallied from a 5-0 deficit to tie the game in the eighth, Headley opened the bottom of the inning with a shot to straightaway center field on a 3-1 pitch from David Hernandez (2-3).

Headley said he was over-aggressive when he fouled off the previous pitch.

"I wanted to do some damage with the pitch and kind of over swung," he said." It was nice to be able to step out and kind of re-think my approach at the plate and tell myself to not over swing and go up and execute after that. That was a good feeling."

Hernandez said he didn't want to walk Headley.

"He's swinging the bat really well," Hernandez said. "If he can hit it out to that part of the field, I'll give him that all day. We know he's probably their guy who can hit it out wherever, whatever, off of whomever. I wish I would have pitched him a little bit differently. I would have settled for a leadoff walk and go from there."

It was Headley's fourth career multi-homer game, all coming this year. It was his 14th game this season with three or more RBIs, the most in his career and the most by any major leaguer this season.

"Headley's on fire," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "We know that. You just have to make good pitches. If you don't make good pitches, he's going to pound you like he did tonight."