Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, June 30, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. – San Francisco used a long inning to build an early lead Saturday, a strong start from Dereck Rodriguez, and the Giants defeated the Diamondbacks 7-0 in the second game of their weekend series at Chase Field.

The Giants have won nine of their last 11 games and cut their deficit in the NL West division to 3 ½ games behind the first-place D-backs.

D-backs starter Shelby Miller (0-2) struggled through five innings, giving up six earned runs on nine hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Most of the damage occurred when San Francisco batted around in the third, scoring four runs.

“I thought Shelby had pretty good stuff. That four-run inning really put us behind the 8-ball,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “Shelby was making mistakes out over the plate with an aggressive fastball. At this time of year, it’s hard to be patient. We just have to remind him that this is part of the progression.”

It was Miller’s second start since returning to the D-Backs from over a year of rehab following Tommy John surgery in May 2017.

“This is to be expected,” Lovullo said of Miller’s progress. “These are situations where coming back from Tommy John isn’t going to be perfect. This is just part of the process. We know this outing was better than the last. He got nicked for a run in the fourth, but came back at the heart of their lineup and got them 1-2-3.

“Shelby got through that fifth inning, and that was progression to me.”

While Miller struggled, Giants starter Dereck Rodriguez (3-1) threw 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball. Rodriguez fanned five, walked two and scattered six hits before being pulled after throwing 102 pitches. It was Rodriguez’s first career start against the Diamondbacks.

Giants catcher Buster Posey said, “It was execution, moving the ball down and out and changing speeds,” Posey said. “He’s got a really nice feel for what he’s doing out there.”

After Rodriguez departed, Ty Blach and Cory Gearrin combined to retire eight of the last nine Diamondback hitters.

Posey said that “execution” has been the key to the success of Rodriguez and the other young San Francisco pitchers.

“That, and gaining confidence,” Posey said. “They’re able to come out with a game plan and they’re able to execute it. It’s been fun to watch their progression and hopefully, there’s more of that to come.”

The offense backed the shutout effort with a 12-hit attack, led by Andrew McCutchen (3-for-5) and Gorkys Hernandez (2-for-4). Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik each drove in two runs.

With one out in the San Francisco third, consecutive singles by Posey, McCutchen and Brandon Belt loaded the bases. An RBI walk issued to Crawford made it 2-0, and Sandoval followed with a two-run single.

Joe Panik’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Crawford with the fourth run of the inning. McCutchen added a solo home run in the fourth, extending San Francisco’s lead to 6-0. It was McCutchen’s ninth home run of the season.

At that point, Miller had thrown 80 pitches.

Panik tacked on a solo home run to right – his fourth of the season – in the eighth inning.

Crawford’s solo home run to lead off the San Francisco second put the Giants up to stay at 1-0. The blast – Crawford’s 10th of the season – cleared the right-center fence inside the 413-foot marker.

With Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija on the disable list, the emergence of young pitchers like Rodriguez has been crucial to the Giants’ recent success.

“It’s no secret that good pitching is what it’ going to take to get to the playoffs and win another championship,” Posey said. “It’s good to see him having this success.”

On Sunday, left-hander Derek Holland (5-7, 4.24) starts for the Giants, facing right-hander Zack Godley (9-5, 4.58). First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: Arizona SS Ketel Marte pulled up with a right leg injury while running out an infield single in the seventh inning. Lovullo said Marte had a right hamstring cramp and is day-to-day. … Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (right elbow sprain) threw 4-plus scoreless innings in his second rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento. Cueto threw 69 pitches, struck out five and walked one. RHP Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder tightness) will make his fourth rehab appearance on Monday for the PCL River Cats. … Arizona OF David Peralta played in his 500th MLB game on Friday. … D-Backs are 9-3 in their last 12 home games against San Francisco, going back to last season. … Outside temperature at game time was 105 degrees, 81 inside. Attendance was 38,117.

UP NEXT: The Giants and D-backs conclude their three-game set on Sunday at 1:10 pm PDT.