Phoenix, AZ—-The San Francisco Giants has been real streaky these days but tonight they put it all together.
Third baseman Casey Schmitt was a hitting machine with four, including a two-run homer, and Alex Cobb gave San Francisco eight flawless innings as the Giants defeated the Diamondbacks 6-2 on Thursday night.
With 7 1/3 shutout innings, Cobb lowered his ERA to 1.70, lowest among Giants starters and best in the National League (third in MLB).
For the third time in four starts, he didn’t allow a run while hurling at least seven innings. In eight starts this season, Cobb has allowed two or fewer runs in all but one, when he surrendered three in Mexico City.
Schmitt blasted for a 443-foot homer into the second deck above the Arizona’s bullpen in the second inning off Tommy Henry (1-1). Schmitt was called up from Triple-A Sacramento, finished 4 for 4 with a run-scoring double and is 8 for 12 with two homers and four RBI in the last three games.
Schmitt, a 2020 second-round draft choice from San Diego State as a third baseman, played shortstop corralled five chances cleanly. He drove in the Giants’ first three runs, with his double in the ninth off reliever José Ruiz starting a four-run outburst.
“I’m just going out and having fun, trying to learn as much as I can,” Schmitt said. “This is just amazing. I’m taking it all in and enjoying it.”
The Giants held the Diamondbacks scoreless until Dominic Fletcher’s two-run single off Cole Waites in the ninth inning, edging them within 6-2 and making manager Gabe Kapler to call on Camilo Doval for the final two outs.
Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio is the only other player since 1920 with at least eight hits, four RBI and four runs scored through his first three games, according to OptaStats.
After Alek Thomas singled to lead off the third, Cobb picked him off with a quick move and a nice tag from LaMonte Wade Jr. Besides a wild pitch from Cobb in the seventh that allowed Gurriel to walk second to third, Arizona didn’t challenge Joey Bart once.
Arizona is the most athletic and aggressive base running teams in the majors, the D-backs entered this series with 31 stolen bases, tied for seventh in the majors (eight more than San Fran, tied for 16th). No team was peskier to San Francisco pitchers last season, either. The D-backs swiped 21 bags, more than twice as many as any other team.
“Fortunately, most of my pitches produce groundballs,” Cobb said. “They know when I’m on the mound they’re going to get some action.”
Cobb was taking after walking Josh Rojas n the eighth. Tyler Rogers came in to relieved and retired Ketel Marte on a double-play grounder.
Dominic Fletcher had three hits, including a two-run single in the ninth against reliever Cole Waites for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped three in a row.
Arizona had chance against Cobb in the second inning when Christian Walker and Fletcher singled to put runners on the corners with one out. But Cobb got Gabriel Moreno to hit into a double play to end the threat.
Henry (1-1) pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and two runs. He walked two with 2K’s.
“I finally felt confident enough with the grip to really trust it in games,” Henry said. “Up until now, the slider has not really been in the mix very much.”
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Arizona RHP Ryne Nelson (1-2, 6.00 ERA) will start Friday night. The Giants had not yet announced a starter.
