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MLB playoffs 2023: Phillies host Diamondbacks in NLCS Sport 7 for World Collection berth vs Rangers | Sports activities

Daily SF News — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 09:12:56 +0000

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies play Game 7 of the NL Championship Series on Tuesday night for a World Series berth against the Texas Rangers.

Texas routed the Houston Astros 11-4 in Game 7 of the ALCS on Monday night as Adolis García homered twice and drove in five runs.

The wild-card Rangers are assured home-field advantage in the World Series starting Friday night following an ALCS in which the visiting team won all seven games. Texas is 8-0 on the road in the postseason, matching the 1996 New York Yankees for the most road wins without a loss.

“I think that the team, they’re just good at focusing or we’re good at focusing on the little things,” said García, the ALCS MVP. “We try to look at what we need to do, little things, to get that win or to just be successful. I think that’s really been key for us for having that success on the road, as well.”

Tommy Pham and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit back-to-back homers and Merrill Kelly struck out eight before an early five-inning hook to help Arizona force Game 7 with a 5-1 win at Philadelphia on Monday.

Two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper was at the forefront of another cold NLCS outing for Phillies hitters, and Aaron Nola got rocked on the mound.

Rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt takes a 2.13 postseason ERA to the mound for Arizona after striking out 15 and walking one in 12 2/3 innings over three playoff outings. Left-hander Ranger Suárez starts for the Phillies after going 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in 14 innings this postseason. He has struck out 13 and walked two.

“I’m expecting some fun,” Kelly said. “Game 7, obviously, they talk about, it’s the best words in sports. I think the fact that we’re here, I don’t think anybody thought we were going to take them to Game 6. I don’t think anybody thought we were even going to make it to Game 1. I don’t think anybody thought we were going to make it past Milwaukee, to be honest with you.”

BETTING FAVORITES

The Rangers are the current betting favorites to win the World Series at -136, followed by the Phillies (+215) and Diamondbacks (+450), according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

NO REPEAT

Texas, one of six big league teams without a World Series title, reached the Fall Classic for the first time since consecutive trips in 2010 and 2011.

Houston’s loss ensured the major leagues remain without a repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.

“This is a tough sport, a tough game. It’s a marathon,” said Dusty Baker, who managed the Astros to the 2022 title. “Nobody stays on top in this sport very long, and the Astros have been on top for quite a while.”

LEADING THE WAY

García homered for the fourth straight game and set a record for RBIs in a postseason series with 15. He had four hits and scored three times.

García’s 20 RBIs are one shy of the postseason record set by David Freese, whose 2011 St. Louis Cardinals beat the Rangers in a seven-game World Series.

“He’s a bad man, isn’t he?” shortstop Corey Seager said. “To be able to come into this atmosphere and get booed every at-bat and do what we did was really special. It was really fun to watch.”

IMPRESSIVE COMPANY

Bochy is trying for his fourth World Series title after winning with San Francisco in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Four championships would tie Walter Alston and Joe Torre for fourth-most behind Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel (seven each) and Connie Mack (five).

Bochy is tied at three with John McGraw, Miler Huggins, Sparky Anderson and Tony La Russa.

Every other manager with three or more is in the Hall of Fame.

HOW TO WATCH

TBS is broadcasting the NLCS. Fox will carry the World Series.

POSTSEASON SCHEDULE

League Championship Series: Oct. 15-24

World Series: Oct. 27-Nov. 4

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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Arizona Diamondbacks decide up key win towards San Francisco Giants

Daily SF News — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 05:44:36 +0000

The Arizona Diamondbacks beat up once again on one of their main competitors for a playoff spot, blasting the San Francisco Giants, 8-4, on Tuesday night at Chase Field for their fourth consecutive win.

After falling behind, 2-0, after a half inning, the Diamondbacks scored eight times in the next five innings, including four runs in the second inning when they took the lead for good.

Ketel Marte had four hits and a walk; Corbin Carroll delivered a pair of important hits in the first two innings; and the Diamondbacks’ bullpen had yet another dominant night, picking up the slack after a lackluster start from Zac Gallen.

In improving to 80-72, the Diamondbacks managed keep pace with the Chicago Cubs (79-72) and Miami Marlins (79-73), both of whom also won, while gaining a game on the Cincinnati Reds (79-74), who lost. The Diamondbacks are a half-game up on the Cubs for the second wild-card spot and a full game ahead of the Marlins, who are on the outside looking in at the playoff picture.

Gallen gave up four runs in five innings, laboring through a 36-pitch fifth. Four Diamondbacks relievers each tossed hitless, scoreless innings, including the club’s top leverage relievers, Kevin Ginkel and closer Paul Sewald, who worked the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

All four wins on the Diamondbacks’ current streak came against contenders. They play one more against the Giants before departing for a six-game road trip to face the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.

—Nick Piecoro

NL Wild Card standings, odds, schedule:DBacks, Cubs, Reds, Marlins, Giants in close race

Gallen struggles again but Diamondbacks still lead

Thanks to an explosive offensive day, the Diamondbacks still lead the Giants, 8-4, after five innings. They did not, though, get an encouraging performance from Zac Gallen.

Gallen’s day ended after he allowed two runs in the fifth inning. The frame could have been even worse, but Mike Yastrzemski narrowly missed a three-run home run foul down the right-field line that would have cut the Diamondbacks’ lead to 7-6. Gallen proceeded to walk Yastrzemski and the next batter, Wilmer Flores, to bring a run home before stranding the bases loaded with a strikeout of Joc Pederson.

Although Gallen did strike out six batters, he ended his day with four earned runs on six hits and three walks over five innings. In four of his last five starts, he has now allowed 21 runs over 20 2/3 innings. The outlier outing in that stretch was a nine-inning complete game shutout of the Cubs.

After Gallen’s day ended in the top of the fifth with the Diamondbacks leading, 7-4, they got an insurance run in the bottom half thanks to an Alek Thomas triple and a Gabriel Moreno sacrifice fly. Miguel Castro entered for Gallen to start the sixth.

—Theo Mackie

Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb departs with injury

With the Diamondbacks already leading, 5-2, the Giants lost their starting pitcher in the bottom of the third inning on Tuesday night as right-hander Alex Cobb walked off the mound with a trainer.

The specific injury is not yet known, but Cobb had been dealing with a left hip impingement in recent weeks and recently avoided a stint on the injured list by receiving a cortisone injection.

Cobb was not sharp through two innings, but he also was not aided by his defense, which melted down during the Diamondbacks’ four-run second inning.

Cobb was replaced by Giants left-hander Alex Wood.

—Nick Piecoro

Diamondbacks take lead over Giants with wild inning

The first inning Tuesday night could hardly have gone worse for the Diamondbacks. But thanks to a second inning that epitomized their brand of baseball, they lead the Giants, 5-2.

Leading off the game, Zac Gallen gave up a triple to LaMonte Wade Jr. that squirted past Corbin Carroll in right field. Wade came around to score on a sacrifice fly before Joc Pederson took Gallen deep on a curveball below the zone that did not appear to be a particularly bad pitch. The early struggles came as Gallen has allowed five or more runs in three of his last four starts.

In each of those three, the Diamondbacks lost. Tuesday could be different because of how their offense fought back.

Carroll and Ketel Marte led off the first with consecutive singles and Carroll came in to score on a Tommy Pham force out. Carroll was again at the center of everything in the second, hitting a two RBI double down the left field line. Ketel Marte then walked, putting runners on first and second. They executed a double steal when catcher Patrick Bailey’s throw bounced away from Wilmer Flores at third base. Carroll took home on the play and Flores sailed his throw to the plate, enabling Marte to score all the way from first.

—Theo Mackie

White Sox to hire DBacks’ Josh Barfield for high-ranking role

Arizona Diamondbacks farm director Josh Barfield has accepted a position as an assistant general manager with the Chicago White Sox, a source confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

Barfield has been with the Diamondbacks since 2015, moving from scouting to player development. He became the top assistant in player development in 2018, then took over the top job two years later.

Barfield will work under new White Sox General Manager Chris Getz.

Barfield’s departure was first reported by MLB.com.

The Diamondbacks do not yet have plans in place to replace Barfield.

—Nick Piecoro

Diamondbacks’ first round pick Tommy Troy undergoes procedure on foot

Shortstop Tommy Troy, the Diamondbacks’ first-round pick in this year’s draft and one of their top prospects, was wearing a boot on his left foot Tuesday when he met with reporters in the dugout at Chase Field.

Troy said he fractured the foot on a hit by pitch in March and made the injury a few weeks later when he rolled over the same foot. After playing on it all season, Troy got an operation last week. He is set to get his stitches removed in two weeks and expects to be back shortly after that to go through a full off-season of training.

“It was definitely bugging me a bit but still grinded through it, found ways to deal with it and find a way to win,” Troy said. “That’s what you gotta do.”

Playing through the injury at Stanford, Troy hit .394/.478/.699. After being selected No. 12 overall, he hit .271/.374/.469 in 27 games between the Arizona Complex League and High-A.

“It was everything I thought it was gonna be,” Troy said of his first taste of professional baseball. “It was just super fun. This is your job, this is what I get to do for a living. Everything I ever wanted.”

—Theo Mackie

Tuesday’s Diamondbacks-Giants pitching matchup

Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (15-8, 3.50) vs. Giants RHP Alex Cobb (7-6, 3.62).

Gallen was hit hard by the Mets in his most recent start, giving up seven runs (six earned) in five-plus innings in an outing at Citi Field last week. … Prior to that, he turned in perhaps the best start of his career, a three-hit shutout of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. … He has pitched pretty well against the Giants both times he has faced them, giving up a combined five runs in 13 2/3 innings. … Cobb gave up a pair of unearned runs in five innings against Cleveland in his most recent start. … He has faced the Diamondbacks twice this year, allowing three runs in 13 1/3 innings with three walks and seven strikeouts. … His curveball has been his best put-away pitch. He has induced whiffs on 31.4 percent of swings.

Coming up

Wednesday: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (11-7, 3.45) vs. Giants RHP Logan Webb (10-12, 3.31.

Thursday: Off.

Friday: At New York, 4:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (2-8, 5.86) vs. Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon (3-6, 5.90).

Saturday: At New York, 10:05 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zach Davies (2-5, 6.81) vs. Yankees TBA.

More DBacks:For Diamondbacks and Torey Lovullo, no room for error with starting rotation

What to know about the San Francisco Giants

Like the rest of the teams in the mix for the final wild-card spots, the Giants seem to alternate between looking like a viable contender and looking as if they have no business in the race. They looked like the latter over the weekend when they dropped three out of four to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, winning on Sunday to avoid a sweep — and only barely as they almost blew an 11-5 lead. They are 6-5 against the Diamondbacks this season. If they win one of these two games they will earn the tiebreaker against them. (The Diamondbacks already have lost the tiebreaker to Cincinnati and Miami, though they have it over the Cubs.) OF Mitch Haniger had a good day at the plate on Sunday, though he has not had good results since returning from injury in late August. Similarly, OF Michael Conforto came off the injured list last week and had a quiet series vs. the Rockies. Both teams are starting their top two starters in this series. Both teams also were off on Monday.

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San Francisco Giants tackle the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday | Sports activities

Daily SF News — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 11:42:07 +0000

Arizona Diamondbacks (57-51, third in the NL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (59-49, second in the NL West)

San Francisco; Wednesday, 9:45 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Slade Cecconi (0-0); Giants: Logan Webb (8-9, 3.68 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 140 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

San Francisco has a 31-24 record at home and a 59-49 record overall. The Giants have the 10th-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .318.

Arizona is 29-23 in road games and 57-51 overall. The Diamondbacks rank eighth in the NL with 123 total home runs, averaging 1.1 per game.

Wednesday’s game is the 10th time these teams meet this season. The Diamondbacks hold a 5-4 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: LaMonte Wade Jr has 13 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 30 RBI for the Giants. Wilmer Flores is 12-for-36 with three doubles, three home runs and five RBI over the last 10 games.

Ketel Marte has 19 doubles, seven triples, 18 home runs and 57 RBI while hitting .294 for the Diamondbacks. Emmanuel Rivera is 11-for-32 with a double and three home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Giants: 5-5, .217 batting average, 3.66 ERA, outscored by 11 runs

Diamondbacks: 3-7, .245 batting average, 5.16 ERA, outscored by 18 runs

INJURIES: Giants: Mike Yastrzemski: 10-Day IL (hamstring), John Brebbia: 60-Day IL (lat), Anthony DeSclafani: 15-Day IL (elbow), Cole Waites: 60-Day IL (elbow), Thairo Estrada: 10-Day IL (hand), Thomas Szapucki: 60-Day IL (arm), Mitch Haniger: 60-Day IL (forearm), Roberto Perez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Luis Gonzalez: 60-Day IL (back)

Diamondbacks: Tommy Henry: 15-Day IL (elbow), Evan Longoria: 10-Day IL (back), Gabriel Moreno: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Zach Davies: 15-Day IL (back), Drey Jameson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Mark Melancon: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Corbin Martin: 60-Day IL (lat)

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Diamondbacks play the Giants with 1-0 sequence lead | Baseball

Daily SF News — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:34:55 +0000

Arizona Diamondbacks (57-50, third in the NL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (58-49, second in the NL West)

San Francisco; Tuesday, 9:45 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (11-5, 3.36 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 143 strikeouts); Giants: Alex Cobb (6-3, 2.97 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 100 strikeouts)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Diamondbacks -121, Giants +101; over/under is 7 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks lead 1-0 in a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

San Francisco has a 30-24 record at home and a 58-49 record overall. The Giants have the third-ranked team ERA in the NL at 3.94.

Arizona has a 57-50 record overall and a 29-22 record in road games. The Diamondbacks have the fourth-ranked team batting average in the NL at .256.

The teams meet Tuesday for the ninth time this season. The Diamondbacks lead the season series 5-3.

TOP PERFORMERS: LaMonte Wade Jr has 13 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 29 RBI for the Giants. Wilmer Flores is 12-for-36 with three doubles, three home runs and five RBI over the past 10 games.

Christian Walker has 32 doubles, 22 home runs and 68 RBI for the Diamondbacks. Emmanuel Rivera is 11-for-32 with a double and three home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Giants: 4-6, .204 batting average, 3.90 ERA, outscored by 14 runs

Diamondbacks: 3-7, .244 batting average, 5.56 ERA, outscored by 20 runs

INJURIES: Giants: Mike Yastrzemski: 10-Day IL (hamstring), John Brebbia: 60-Day IL (lat), A.J. Pollock: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Anthony DeSclafani: 15-Day IL (elbow), Cole Waites: 60-Day IL (elbow), Thairo Estrada: 10-Day IL (hand), Thomas Szapucki: 60-Day IL (arm), Mitch Haniger: 60-Day IL (forearm), Roberto Perez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Luis Gonzalez: 60-Day IL (back)

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Diamondbacks go to the Giants to start out 4-game collection | Sports activities

Daily SF News — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:25:13 +0000

Arizona Diamondbacks (56-50, third in the NL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (58-48, second in the NL West)

San Francisco; Monday, 9:45 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Ryne Nelson (6-5, 4.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 74 strikeouts); Giants: Alex Cobb (6-3, 2.97 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 100 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants start a four-game series at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.

San Francisco has a 30-23 record in home games and a 58-48 record overall. The Giants have a 32-8 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.

Arizona has a 56-50 record overall and a 28-22 record in road games. The Diamondbacks have the fourth-ranked team batting average in the NL at .258.

Monday’s game is the eighth time these teams meet this season. The Diamondbacks are up 4-3 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Conforto has 10 doubles, 13 home runs and 52 RBI while hitting .241 for the Giants. Wilmer Flores is 12-for-35 with three doubles and two home runs over the last 10 games.

Corbin Carroll has 21 doubles, five triples and 21 home runs for the Diamondbacks. Ketel Marte is 16-for-38 with three triples and two home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Giants: 4-6, .200 batting average, 4.34 ERA, outscored by 17 runs

Diamondbacks: 2-8, .249 batting average, 6.28 ERA, outscored by 23 runs

INJURIES: Giants: Mike Yastrzemski: day-to-day (hamstring), Anthony DeSclafani: 15-Day IL (elbow), Cole Waites: 60-Day IL (elbow), Thairo Estrada: 10-Day IL (hand), Thomas Szapucki: 60-Day IL (arm), Mitch Haniger: 60-Day IL (forearm), John Brebbia: 15-Day IL (lat), Roberto Perez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Luis Gonzalez: 60-Day IL (back)

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Ryne Nelson sharp, Ketel Marte homers once more as Diamondbacks prime Giants 5-2

Daily SF News — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 10:43:23 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO — Ryne Nelson struck out six in seven innings in his strongest start of the season, Ketel Marte added two hits and homered for the second consecutive game, and the Arizona Diamondbacks held off the surging Giants 5-2 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep.

Christian Walker extended his career-high hitting streak to 10 games with an RBI double for Arizona. Alek Thomas had three hits for the Diamondbacks, whose lead in the NL West had been trimmed to 1 ½ games over the Giants after San Francisco won the first two games of the series.

Arizona set a franchise record with its 79th consecutive game without being shut out, the ninth-longest streak in the majors since 1998.

“We felt like we needed to respond to a couple of tough games where we let some things get away from us that we were able to control,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “The group walked in here today very focused.”

J.D. Davis and Luis Matos each had two hits for San Francisco. It was the Giants’ second loss in 14 games and prevented them from completing their fourth series sweep in the last six tries.

San Francisco scored once in the eighth and appeared to load the bases on Patrick Bailey’s infield single. But Blake Sabol, who walked earlier in the inning, rounded second and headed for third before realizing Davis was still there. Sabol was tagged out going back to second.

The Giants threatened again in the ninth but Scott McGough got Thairo Estrada to ground out with two runners on to end it for his sixth save.

“We definitely knew we needed to take one from them,” Nelson said. “The team just came out and played really well today.”

Nelson (4-4), making his second start against the Giants this season, was much crisper than in May, when San Francisco got to him for four runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The Diamondbacks right-hander was stellar the second time, allowing three hits and one run. Nelson retired 14 straight after giving up a double and walk to back-to-back batters in the first.

The seven innings was Nelson’s longest outing this season and matched his career high set last Sept. 5 against San Diego.

“That’s what I’m trying to do, trying to prove that I can get deep in games,” Nelson said. “I’ve been trying to keep the pitch count down to have that opportunity.”

Marte singled off the brick wall in right in the first inning, then came around on Walker’s double into the gap in right-center. His home run off Tristan Beck in the eighth was Marte’s 14th in 73 games this season, two more than he had in 137 games last season.

“He’s an elite player that’s just growing and learning every day,” Lovullo said of Marte, who has homered in four of the past six games. “We’re seeing the on-base percentage climb because he’s swinging at good pitches. When you’re doing that, you’re going to drive baseballs.”

Thomas doubled against Anthony DeSclafani (4-7) and scored on McCarthy’s single in the second to make it 2-0.

Nelson struck out Sabol swinging with runners at the corners to end the first, then got Sabol to line out to end the sixth with two on. That came one batter after Davis singled in Estrada to cut the gap to 2-1. Estrada reached on an error by Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno after Estrada struck out swinging.

Geraldo Perdomo had an RBI single in the ninth for the Diamondbacks.

Andrew Chafin allowed one run in two-thirds of an inning after replacing Nelson to begin the eighth.

DeSclafani allowed two runs and five hits in six innings. He had three strikeouts but remained winless since May 29.

Overturned pickoff

DeSclafani made a quick pick-off throw to first base to get McCarthy for the final out of the second. McCarthy was initially ruled safe by first base umpire and crew chief Alan Porter but the Giants challenged and the call was overturned by replay.

The Giants challenged another call in the seventh inning but were denied by a video review.

Ttrainer’s room

Giants: RHP Luke Jackson was placed on the 15-day Injured List with a low back strain. Jackson left Saturday’s game because of the injury. … RHP Ross Stripling returned from a rehab assignment and was reinstated from the 15-day IL. … 1B/OF LaMonte Wade Jr., who was also pulled from Saturday’s game because of lower back tightness, was held out of the lineup as precaution.

Up next

Diamondbacks: Lovullo has not named a starter for Tuesday’s series opener against the Rays in a matchup of division leaders in Arizona.

Giants: Manager Gabe Kapler has not named a starter for Tuesday’s game in Toronto, although the team has used an opener for this turn in the rotation for the previous five weeks.

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Matos hits first profession HR to raise Giants previous Diamondbacks 7-6 for twelfth win in 13 video games – KXAN Austin

Daily SF News — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 03:59:07 +0000

MICHAEL WAGAMAN, Associated Press

1 day 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.

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.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Matos hits first profession HR to raise Giants previous Diamondbacks 7-6 for twelfth win in 13 video games

Daily SF News — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 02:54:13 +0000

MICHAEL WAGAMAN, Associated Press

1 hour ago