Giants Win First Road Series Tops D-backs
Cueto, Dickerson beat Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1
San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, Aug 30, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
2020.08.30 – The San Francisco Giants won their first road series topping the Arizona D-backs. Johnny Cueto pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Alex Dickerson homered and had two RBIs, and the Giants beat the Diamondbacks 4-1 on Sunday.
Cueto was sharp in his last start before the trade deadline, allowing a run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings. He even added a few new shimmies to his cache of eccentric wind-up moves.
“I like to invent during the game,” Cueto said through a translator. “That’s what I do, I pitch on the fly.”
Dickerson hit a solo homer in the first inning and lined a run-scoring single in the eighth off Archie Bradley after the Giants put two on against Stefan Crichton (2-2). Evan Longoria followed with a two-run single and Tyler Rogers (2-3) worked a perfect bottom half.
2020.08.30 (San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona D-backs) See video
2020.08.30 (San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona D-backs) See video
Sam Coonrod pitched a perfect ninth for his first career save to push the Giants to their ninth win in 12 games.
Eduardo Escobar homered and Taylor Clarke allowed one hit in five innings for Arizona. The Diamondbacks had three hits to lose for the 10th time in 11 games.
“It wasn’t a very good homestand for us,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ve got to find a way to regroup and get to start playing the type of baseball we’ve become accustomed to here in Arizona.”
Cueto, who has one year and a club option left on his contract, has been the subject of trade speculation heading into Monday’s deadline.
The right-hander put on a show against the Diamondbacks, using his vast repertoire of wind-up quirks to get them to hit one weak ball after another. Escobar legged out an infield single in the second inning and, after Cueto retired the next 11 batters, hit a solo homer to right to tie the game at 1-all in the seventh. Cueto struck out six.
“He’s so fun to watch,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. ”This was definitely up there.”
Clarke was just as good.
The right-hander pitched well in an emergency start against Colorado on Monday, allowing an earned run on two hits in four innings.
Clarke had limited opposing hitters to 1 for 18 this season on his changeup, but he left one up in the first inning and Dickerson hit it out for a long solo home run.
Clarke settled into a rhythm after that, limiting the Giants to one hit and two base runners before being replaced by Kevin Ginkel in the sixth inning. Clarke matched a career high with seven strikeouts.
“I left a changeup over the middle there, but overall felt pretty good about it,” Clarke said. “I felt like I got in a groove after the second or third inning.”
CUETO’S SHIMMIES
Cueto is known for his creative wind-ups, sometimes turning his back to the hitters, hitching his leg kick, occasionally quick pitching.
Usually it’s spontaneous, but now his catcher, Chadwick Tromp, is calling for Cueto to shimmy on certain pitches.
“I haven’t seen a catcher call anything like that before,” Kapler said. “They definitely work well together.”
CLARKE’S TURNAROUND
Clarke had an up-and-down rookie season with the Diamondbacks last year, finishing 5-5 with a 5.31 ERA.
He’s been sharp so far this shortened season, pitching effectively out of the bullpen before joining the rotation when Merrill Kelly went down with a shoulder injury.
Clarke has allowed more than one earned run once this season Sunday’s start dropped his ERA to 2.22.
“It’s more about pitch usage,” he said. “I’ve tinkered with a few pitches here and there that I think have gotten better.”
TRAINING TABLE
Giants: An MRI on RHP Trevor Cahill’s left hip showed joint inflammation after he left Saturday’s start in the fourth inning in pain. He will start anti-inflammatory medicine and be evaluated this week. … LHP Drew Smyly (finger), RHP Jeff Samardzija (shoulder) and OF Austin Slater (groin) are expected to head to San Francisco’s alternate training site this week to begin their rehabs.
Diamondbacks: LHP Madison Bumgarner, out since leaving his Aug. 9 start with back spasms, threw a simulated game Saturday night that manager Torey Lovullo said was “solid.” … Arizona is hoping RHP Andrew Chafin will be cleared to return on Monday. He’s been on the injured list with a left finger sprain.
UP NEXT
Giants: No starter has been named for the opening game of a road series at Colorado on Tuesday.
Diamondbacks: LHP Alex Young (1-1, 4.70) is 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA his last five starts heading into Tuesday’s series opener at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
RELATED: See below 2020.08.29 (San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona D-backs)
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
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Giants snap 3-game skid, beat Diamondbacks 5-2
San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski hits an RBI-double against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning during a baseball game, Saturday, Aug 29, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
2020.08.29 – Evan Longoria hit two doubles, Brandon Belt reached base four times and the San Francisco Giants snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 on Saturday night.
San Francisco starter Trevor Cahill retired his first eight batters but left the game abruptly in the fourth inning with left hip discomfort. The move came a few pitches after he gave up a two-run homer to Christian Walker that pulled the D-backs within 4-2.
The Giants leaned on an outstanding bullpen effort the rest of the way. Jarlin García (2-1), Sam Coonrod, Trevor Gott, Tony Watson and Tyler Rogers combined for 5 2/3 scoreless innings and gave up just one hit. Rogers earned his second save.
“We know we’re going to have to play good ball to be a playoff team,” Cahill said. “I think we’re up for the challenge. We’ve been on an exciting run the last couple weeks.”
Cahill’s injury issue appeared to start in the third inning with the pitcher grimacing as he walked around the mound. Manager Gabe Kapler and a trainer came out to check on him but he remained in the game until the fourth.
The veteran right-hander gave up two runs over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.
“It’s something that’s always there, it’s just never gotten to a point where I felt like it’s actually affected me pitching,” Cahill said. “Today was the day. I just got sore to the point where I just couldn’t go anymore.”
2020.08.29 (San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona D-backs) See video
2020.08.29 (San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona D-backs) See video
Kapler said Cahill would get an MRI on Sunday. The Giants already have two starting pitchers on the injured list, including left-hander Drew Smyly and right-hander Jeff Samardzija.
San Francisco jumped ahead 2-0 in the first after Longoria and Belt hit back-to-back RBI doubles. The Giants added another run in the third when Mike Yastrzemski’s double brought home Mauricio Dubon and pushed ahead 4-0 in the third when Pablo Sandoval’s single scored Longoria.
Wilmer Flores hit a solo homer in the ninth to put the Giants up 5-2.
“I thought we did a nice job on offense tonight,” Kapler said. “We really haven’t been able to kind of throw the right hook and land a knockout blow and I do think that that’s something that we’re going to have to be able to do to be the kind of team that we want to be.”
It was a disappointing outing for Arizona’s Luke Weaver (1-5), whose ERA ballooned to 8.23. The right-hander was coming off two consecutive encouraging starts but regressed against the Giants, giving up four earned runs on eight hits and a walk in just three innings. He struck out six.
“I think Luke had good stuff, but there were just too many middle (of the plate) mistakes,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “When you make middle mistakes at this level, you’re going to pay for them.”
Arizona has lost nine of its past 10 games. The D-backs managed just three hits and are the second team in the National League to lose 20 games this season, joining the Pittsburgh Pirates.
On paper, Arizona’s offense has several accomplished offensive players like Kole Calhoun, Ketel Marte, Starling Marte, David Peralta and Walker, but it hasn’t translated to results. The D-backs expected to compete for a spot in the playoffs this season but they’re running out of time to make a move.
“It’s been fairly inconsistent, I know that,” Lovullo said. “We’re all aware, it’s something we’re working on every single day.”
WELL TRAVELED
Cahill has started on the mound for eight different MLB teams: Oakland, Arizona, Atlanta, San Francisco, San Diego, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago Cubs. That’s the most for an active pitcher.
The all-time record is 12 teams by Mike Morgan, who played 22 seasons in the big leagues from 1978 to 2002.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: Lovullo said that LHP Madison Bumgarner (back) was scheduled to throw a bullpen on Saturday night.
UP NEXT
Giants: San Francisco sends RHP Johnny Cueto (2-0, 5.40) to the mound for Sunday’s series finale.
Diamondbacks: Arizona counters with RHP Taylor Clarke (1-0, 2.33), who makes his second start of the season.
RELATED: See below 2020.08.28 (San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona D-backs)
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco Giants, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Diamondbacks stop 8-game skid, beat Giants 7-4
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte scores on a base hit by teammate Starling Marte during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
2020.08.28 – Starling Marte had two hits and two RBIs and the Arizona Diamondbacks snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating the San Francisco Giants 7-4 on Friday night.
Gallen (1-0) came into the game with a 2.25 ERA, but had taken a no-decision in his first six starts. The right-hander threw seven impressive innings, giving up five hits and issuing one walk.
Arizona’s offense gave Gallen an early cushion, scoring one in the first, two more in the third and four in the fifth for a 7-0 lead. The Diamondbacks were fortunate during their four-run outburst. Ketel Marte hit a bloop single that landed on the right-field foul line and a few other softly hit balls found holes.
“It was huge,” Gallen said. “We were on that skid. We’re such a better team than how we’ve been playing and the guys know that, everyone knows that. Sometimes you need some breaks, some hits to fall in, stuff like that.”
2020.08.28 (San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona D-backs) See video
2020.08.28 (San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona D-backs) See video
The Giants scored their only run off Gallen when Evan Longoria homered in the sixth.
“He’s got good stuff,” San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler said. “He’s a tough customer out there.”
Arizona is still in last place in the NL West but improved to 14-19. Ketel Marte had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Christian Walker had two RBIs.
“We’re going to celebrate this one a little bit longer,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “Then we’ll turn the page and do it again tomorrow.”
Tyler Anderson (1-2) had a rough outing less than a week after throwing a three-hitter against the Diamondbacks in San Francisco. The left-hander was charged with seven runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.
“It was a little bit of everything,” Anderson said. “Not that (the pitches) were all that bad, but some of them if maybe they were down, they were a little more middle than off than I would have liked it. Just not quite as crisp.”
The Giants trailed 7-1 going into the ninth. Wilmer Flores doubled home Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford hit a two-run homer off Taylor Widener before the rookie right-hander closed it out.
San Francisco has lost three straight games to fall to 15-19 overall. The first two losses were against the Dodgers.
“There’s some credit that deserves to be given to Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers bullpen and today Gallen,” Kapler said. “Those are three tough matchups. The flip side of that, is that’s major league baseball. Every time you go out there, you’re going to be facing somebody who’s got great stuff and the ability to beat you. We’ve got to step up and meet that challenge.
GALLEN THE GREAT
Gallen set a big league record by allowing three or fewer runs in the first 22 starts of his career. The 25-year-old was traded to the Diamondbacks from the Miami Marlins last season for fellow prospect Jazz Chisholm.
“That’s really, really impressive,” Lovullo said. “I stopped to congratulate him just now to let him know it’s an amazing accomplishment, one that’s built through a lot of hard work and trust in the people around him. We want that streak to continue and I think it will.”
The previous record was 21 straight starts by Boston’s Aaron Sele, who accomplished the feat over parts of 1993 and 1994.
SCHEDULING
Arizona announced it will play a doubleheader against Colorado on Sep. 25 at Chase Field. The teams elected to postpone Thursday’s game to protest racial injustice.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: LHP Drew Smyly (finger sprain) will throw another bullpen this weekend. … RHP Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder inflammation) will throw his second bullpen this weekend.
Diamondbacks: Lovullo said he’d wait at last one more turn through the rotation before putting LHP Madison Bumgarner (strained back) into the mix. Lovullo said Bumgarner feels good but he wants the veteran at full strength when he returns.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Trevor Cahill (0-0, 1.64 ERA) starts on Saturday.
Diamondbacks: RHP Luke Weaver (1-4, 7.77 ERA) pitches when the series resumes.
RELATED: See 2020.08.20 (San Francisco Giants vs. LA Angeles)
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco Giants, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
49ERS FIT – FREE 4-DAY PASS
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.