San Francisco Giants’ Matt Cain, right, paces on the mound after giving up a three-run home run to Arizona Diamondbacks’ Paul Goldschmidt, left, during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 11-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, August 27, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – At the end of Sunday’s NL West game between San Francisco and Arizona, Matt Cain took one for the team, and the Diamondbacks made it hurt.

Cain, the former Giants ace, was called on in the bottom of the eighth to keep San Francisco in a two-run game. Ten batters and eight runs later, the D-Backs led 10-0 when Cain was mercifully removed.

In all, Arizona sent 12 batters to the plate in a nine-run eighth, cruising to an 11-0 victory, their fourth in a row.

The Diamondbacks (73-58) maintain a 1 1/2-game lead over Colorado in the National League Wild Card race, with Milwaukee and Miami trailing the Rockies by 5 and 5 ½ games, respectively.

Patrick Corbin (12-11) struck out eight and walked one in seven scoreless innings, earning his fourth straight win. D-Backs relievers Andrew Chafin, David Hernandez and Jake Barrett combined to complete the shutout.

For the second game in a row, the Giants saw a quality start come up short of a victory. Chris Stratton (2-3) gave up four hits and two earned runs in six innings while striking out 10 with five walks.

After giving up a one-out single to Gregor Blanco and walking A.J. Pollock in the Arizona seventh, Josh Osich left after Jake Lamb flied out to deep right. Kyle Crick struck out Paul Goldschmidt to end the threat.

San Francisco (52-80) had runners at first and second with nobody out in the eighth before pinch-hitter Brandon Crawford hit into a double play and Gorkys Hernandez lined out to center.

Then, for the Giants, came the disastrous Diamondback eighth.

Cain, making his fourth appearance out of the bullpen, walked J.D. Martinez and Daniel Descalso singled. After Adam Rosales reached on a well-placed bunt single, Chris Hermann singled to right, driving in Martinez and Descalso.

Pinch-hitter Brandon Drury delivered a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Hermann, and the rally continued. Cain issued a walk to Blanco and Pollock flied out to right before the veteran righthander hit Lamb with a pitch.

Goldschmidt belted his 31st home run of the season to left, a three-run blast, followed by Martinez’s second homer of the game. Cain was pulled in favor of Cory Gearrin, who was greeted by Descalso with a home run to right.

A manufactured run in the bottom of the third inning gave Arizona the first lead of the game. Hermann led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second, and went to third on David Peralta’s infield ground out. Hermann then scored when Stratton uncorked a wild pitch on strike three to Ray Fuentes.

In the D-Backs sixth, after Paul Goldschmidt walked and was thrown out trying to steal second, Martinez homered to right, making it 2-0.

Kelby Tomlinson had two of the Giants’ five hits.

The Giants move on to San Diego for a three-game series with the Padres. Jeff Samardzija (6-12, 4.67) faces Jhoulys Chacin (11-9, 4.10) Monday in a matchup of righthanders.

GIANT JOTTINGS: San Francisco has dropped 7 of its last 11 games against the Diamondbacks. … A 54-second video challenge overturned a possible fielder’s choice for Buster Posey, and was reversed to a 6-4-3 double play that ended the Giants’ first inning. … Arizona’s David Peralta was ejected after striking out in the fifth inning. It was his first career ejection. … Giants RHP Chris Stratton has thrown 18 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three starts. … It was the sixth time in team history the D-Backs hit back-to-back-to-back home runs. The last time was on July 21 against Washington. … Martinez’s 12th and 13th home runs with Arizona give him 29 overall on the season. This was Martinez’s fourth multi-home run game this season, and the fifth of his career. … Attendance at Chase Field was 21,210. The roof was closed – 106 degrees outside, 78 inside.

TAGS: San Francisco Giants,Arizona Diamondbacks,NL Wild Card,Sports Radio Service