Arizona Diamondbacks Tame The San Francisco Giants 8-3

Phoenix, Az—This was the first time the Arizona Diamondbacks played the San Francisco Giants this season. This game was extra special for the D-backs, not only because they played and won on the 4th of July, but their starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner played against his former team. The teams were very patriotic today with their hats, arm sleeves, cleats, and catcher gear all bearing the American Flag.

The Diamondbacks beat San Francisco 8-3 at Chase Field Monday night, handing the Giants their fifth straight loss. The Giants have now lost 11 of their last 14 games.

The Giants were first at bat and score their first two runs. Bumgarner loaded the bases  with one hit batter, two walks with just one out. The first inning looked like it was going to be a long one for the D-backs.  LaMonte Wade, Jr was up to bat and laced a single which two runs scored. With a man on first, the D-Backs rally back with a double play to end the threat.

The first at bat for Arizona was Jordan Luplow against the Giants starting pitcher Carlos Rodon. Luplow smacked a double followed by a walk from Cooper Hummel. With Ketel Marte up to bat, the D-backs had a opportunity to push runs across the diamond. Unfortunately Marte came up short and struck out his first time at the dish. After Christian Walker got on to load the bases for the D-backs, Buddy Kennedy got a single and banged in two runs. The D-Backs were getting quality swings against Rodon.

In the second inning, the Giants bats went cold although Bumgarner gave them hope as the left handed pitcher seemed to struggle a bit with his accuracy. “I’m trying to figure out if it’s something physical and just not making the pitches or if it’s mental trying to be too perfect with each one instead of just going after guys and getting ahead,” Bumgarner said. “The latter is probably what I’m leaning toward but I’m not too sure. We’re definitely going to try to rearrange that and fix it because I’m not getting paid to go five innings every time.”

D-backs got comfortable at the plate and started to put runners in scoring positions. They scored another two runs in the second. Daulton Varsho had an infield single and then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Geraldo Perdomo which resulted in a throwing error by Wilmer Flores.

Hummel roped a single, stole second base and scurried to third on another error by catcher Curt Casali. With Marte’s ground rule double down right field line Hummel walked home, giving the D-backs a 4-2 lead going into the top of the third inning.

David Villar made his debut in the MLB and got a single his first time at bat for Giants with two outs on the board. This was a stellar game for Villar with a single and an RBI as he brought home Evan Longario across the diamond. This cut the deficit to 4-3 but the Giants couldn’t close the gap after that.

The D-backs favorite number was two as each time they scored they put a two spot on the board. They resumed scoring in the sixth inning. Kennedy started the party with a single, followed by an RBI double by Rojas with Varsho driving in Rojas with a single.

Arizona finished off the RBI party in the 8th inning scoring another two runs leaving the Giants scoreless since the third. The D-Backs pitchers kept the Giants’ hitters guessing for most of the game.

Bumgarner pitched five innings, then was relieved by Sean Poppin for a inning, Joe Mantiply pitched two stellar innings, and Mark Melancon closed the game out for the D-Backs.

“The bullpen took over,” head coach Torey Lovullo said postgame. “We talk about being uncommon here — I asked Joe Mantiply to go two full innings. I was trying to keep their lefties on the bench, it’s no mystery. And Joe in a very uncommon way gave us two unbelievable innings. Darn close to 40 pitches over two days but he didn’t waver. He went out there and executed it. It was great to watch. The back side of the bullpen did a really nice job.”

Team Stats Summary

Up Next:

Game 2 – 7/5, 6:40 pm at Chase Field (TBD-AZD vs Alex Wood-SFG)

Game 3 – 7/6, 6:40 pm at Chase Field (Merrill Kelly-AZD vs Alex Cobb-SFG)