Ray pitches Diamondbacks past Giants
SAN FRANCISCO -- Left-hander Robbie Ray shut out the San Francisco Giants for 6 2/3 innings and sparked a three-run uprising with a leadoff single, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks continue their winning ways with a 4-3 victory Tuesday night.
Jake Lamb cleared the bases with a third-inning triple off Giants starter Jeff Samardzija, giving Ray all the offensive support he needed. The Diamondbacks earned their seventh win in nine games this season, equaling the best start in franchise history.
Arizona relievers J.J. Hoover, Jorge De La Rosa and Fernando Rodney allowed all the Giants' scoring over the final two innings, with Rodney picking up his third save despite allowing two runs in the ninth.
The Arizona closer struck out pinch hitter Brandon Crawford with the potential tying run at second base to end the game.
The Giants stranded 13 baserunners, the Diamondbacks 10.
After he escaped a bases-loaded Giants threat in the second inning, Ray smacked a single up the middle off Samardzija to open the Arizona third.
A single by A.J. Pollock and one-out walk to Paul Goldschmidt loaded the bases for Lamb, whose long fly to center field barely eluded the glove of Giants center fielder Gorkys Hernandez, who appeared to slow up as he approached the outfield fence.
The ball caromed off the bottom of the wall, easily allowing all three baserunners to cross the plate and provide Ray an early 3-0 cushion.
The triple extended Lamb's hitting streak to eight games.
Still leading 3-0, Ray (1-0) was pulled with one on and two outs in the San Francisco seventh. He pitched around four singles and five walks, striking out eight.
The Diamondbacks added an insurance run off Giants reliever Neil Ramirez in the eighth on an RBI single by Chris Iannetta, scoring Yasmany Tomas, who had doubled.
Samardzija (0-2) held the Diamondbacks to three runs despite allowing five hits and four walks in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven.
The Giants finally got on the scoreboard in the eighth against the third Arizona pitcher, De La Rosa. Doubles by Hundley and Joe Panik produced the run.
Lamb and Tomas had two hits apiece for the Diamondbacks, who were outhit 10-9.
Eduardo Nunez had four singles and Hundley two doubles and a single for the Giants, who lost for the fourth time in six early season meetings with the Diamondbacks.
Hunter Pence reached base five straight times for the Giants with two singles and three walks.
The Diamondbacks' three-run third came immediately following a second inning in which the Giants nearly scored four.
After San Francisco loaded the bases on an Eduardo Nunez infield single and a pair of one-out walks, Samardzija struck out for the second out before Hernandez hit a high, deep fly to left.
Tomas hauled it in at the fence, preserving the early 0-0 tie.
NOTES: Despite the fact C Buster Posey wasn't diagnosed with a concussion after being hit in the head by a RHP Taijuan Walker pitch Monday, the Giants elected to place him on the seven-day concussion disabled list. ... To take Posey's spot on the active roster, the Giants promoted veteran C Tim Federowicz from Triple-A Sacramento. The ex-Chicago Cub struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. ... In order to create room for Federowicz on the organization's 40-man roster, the Giants designated RHP Clayton Blackburn for assignment. ... LHP Robbie Ray's strong performance continued a nice run for Diamondbacks starters. They entered the game ranked third in the National League in innings pitched (43 2/3), and fourth in ERA (3.50) and opponents' batting average (.238).