Matos hits first profession HR to raise Giants previous Diamondbacks 7-6 for twelfth win in 13 video games
MICHAEL WAGAMAN, Associated Press
1 hour ago
Keaton Winn (67) of the San Francisco Giants throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in San Francisco, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Luis Matos took a few slow steps towards first base followed by two quick jumps. The Giants rookie didn’t admire his first home run of his career so much as he tried to keep it fair.
“I knew it had the distance to go out,” Matos said through an interpreter. “I just wanted to make sure it was fair.”
Matos’ successful two-run drive in the sixth inning gave the Giants their greatest moment as they defeated the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6 on Saturday and recorded their 12th win in 13 games.
Joc Pederson and Blake Sabol each added two goals as San Francisco won their second straight win over Arizona to move 1 1/2 games ahead in the NL West.
Like some others who played well for the Giants after getting promoted from the Minors. Matos was the No. 4 on the team when he was called up on June 14. Since then he has scored at least one goal in seven of the ten games he has played in, playing mostly in midfield. Matos finished ninth on Saturday.
“Really good contact hitter. That’s one of the things we notice,” said Giants manager Gabe Kapler. “He has really good racquet-to-ball skills and a really good understanding of where the sweet spot is on the racquet. Nice to have a batsman at the end of the lineup who can do that much damage.”
Christian Walker extended his hitting streak to nine games with three hits and three RBIs for the Diamondbacks. Ketel Marte added his 13th home run and two RBIs. Arizona is the only major team to avoid a shutout this season.
Taylor Rogers (4-2), the Giants’ fifth of seven pitchers, eliminated three batters in game six to take the win. Camilo Doval allowed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. an RBI single in the ninth run, but beat Pavin Smith with his second- and third-place runners for his 22nd save.
The Giants trailed 3-1, 5-3 before leveling the game with two runs in the fifth and then finally taking the lead from Matos at the crucial moment.
After Brandon Crawford’s leadoff single, Matos hit a 2-0 fastball from Arizona starter Merrill Kelly (9-4) over the fence in left field. The 21-year-old San Francisco outfielder, who played at center for the second straight season after Mike Yastrzemski was put on the injured list, had one hit in his last 10 at-bats and was picked up from first base.
“(Kelly) started me with two balls and no strokes, so at that moment I knew he had to attack the zone,” Matos said. “I knew he was going to come in and give me a good pitch to hit and I got that.”
Kelly, tied at the top of the NL in wins, suffered his first loss in eight away starts this season. He allowed 10 hits and seven runs (five earned) in five innings.
Arizona got off to an early start with Marte’s 13th home run-off opener Ryan Walker in the first, but San Francisco hit two unearned runs late in the inning to take a 2-1 lead.
Diamondbacks midfielder Corbin Carroll dropped Thairo Estrada’s flyball to an error, a batter after LaMonte Wade Jr. put a leadoff double down right center. It was Carroll’s first mistake of the season and the second in 31 career games at the center.
Immediately after the slip, Pederson’s groundout drove Wade in. Michael Confortos brace scored Estrada.
The Diamondbacks regained the lead with four runs in fourth off-reliever Keaton Winn. Jake McCarthy got an infield single and then stole second place. Geraldo Perdomo followed with a liner that Giants second baseman Estrada parried with a jump stop but lost control. Marte then hit an RBI single over Estrada right.
The game was then paused for several moments during a video briefing after Marte came second to Carroll’s fielder’s choice grounder against reliever Sean Manaea. Crawford threw the ball behind base and appeared to hit Marte to the sack, but the runner was ruled safe. San Francisco protested, but the demand was granted.
Walker, who served as San Francisco’s opener for the third time in six games, allowed two hits in an inning, including Marte’s home run.
TRAINING ROOM
Diamondbacks: Carroll played midfield for the first time in a week because manager Torey Lovullo gave Alek Thomas the day off.
Giants: Reliever Luke Jackson left for unknown reasons after coming up against a batter in game six. … SS Dalton Guthrie selected as an option for Triple-A Sacramento after taking the infielder from the Phillies earlier in the week.
NEXT
Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (3-4, 5.31) meets the Giants for the second time in his career in Sunday’s series finale. Anthony DeSclafani (4-6, 4.38) pitches for San Francisco and is seeking his first win since May 29.
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