The Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Buddy Kennedy retires San Francisco Giant Brandon Crawford at second and relays the throw to first in a double play in the top of the third inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tue Jul 5, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Tuesday, July 5, 2022

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Bunting with two strikes is rarely, if ever, advised. Arizona’s Josh Rojas proved it can work.

Pinch-hitting for Jake Hager to lead off the Diamondback eighth inning, the left-handed hitting Rojas avoided the shift and dropped a bunt on the left side, igniting a five-run rally that gave Arizona a 6-2 win over the San Francisco Giants Tuesday at Chase Field.

It was the Diamondbacks’ second straight win, and the Giants’ sixth loss in a row, and 10thsetback in their last 12 games.

“That conversation started in spring training,” Rojas explained about the risky play. “The discussion was, ‘What are the averages in 0-2 counts?’ My guess was, if you’re going good, maybe .200, I can get half the bunts down in fair territory. The scariest part is when you bunt it foul and you look like an idiot. If you can get past that, and get half of them in play, I think I can get more than half of them in play.” said Rojas

“I’ve had a couple of opportunities this year where the thought of bunting it foul was just too strong and I got scared. I was talking to my dad last week before we hit the road. He told me, ‘it’s there. There giving you that pitch with two strikes.’ I told him, ‘I know it’s there, but I just can’t do it.’ Today was the perfect opportunity. (Dominic Leone) threw me a fastball and I swung over a slider. Then (the Giants) cleared the left side of the infield and I thought, ‘I’ll increase my batting average from .100 to .500!’“I’m 1-for-1 now on those, and we’ll see if I have the courage to do it again.” said Rojas

The Diamondbacks forged a five-run rally to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rojas ignited the rally with his daring bunt single off a 102 mile-per-hour fastball and moved to third on a one-out single by Hummel. With Ketel Marte at the plate, Leone (3-1) uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Rojas to score from third and Hummel advanced to second.

“I think Dom was just having trouble finding the strike zone,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “He made some pitches we were hoping to get them to chase on, got behind in the counts, and had to deliver strikes. “Dom has been one of the best right-handed relievers over the last calendar year. We wanted to give him a chance to work out of it himself, and we saw that the command and the control were a problem. That’s when we went to Camilo.”

“I think Josh was disrupting Leone,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “He did a good job of getting on base and disrupting him on the bases.”

Leone’s second wild pitch of the inning allowed Hummel to reach third and Marte – who walked – to second. Christian Walker followed with a walk to load the bases, chasing Leone. Buddy Kennedy’s sacrifice fly off Camilo Doval drove in Hummel to put the Diamondbacks up 3-2, and Varsho followed with a three-run home run to right.

“I knew it would be hard because I faced (Doval) in Triple-A last year, so it’s not going to be one of those at-bats where you’re going to take pitches,” Varsho said. “You have to be ready to swing on the first pitch. “I was more thrilled for the team than I was for myself. Baseball is hard and I had a tough month. It was good to start this month really well.”

The Giants took a 2-1 lead after challenging a call in the top of the seventh. Yermin Mercedes walked and moved to second on a groundout by Brandon Crawford before Austin Wynns’ fly down the left field line off D-Backs reliever Caleb Smith (1-1) was trapped by Arizona left-fielder Cooper Hummel, who slid into foul territory. After review, it was ruled a single and run batted in for Wynns.

San Francisco threatened again in the top of the eighth, when Wilmer Flores walked and Evan Longoria was intentionally walked. But Joc Pederson grounded out to first and Mercedes flied out to center.

San Francisco broke through with a run off Arizona starter Tyler Gilbert in the fourth inning. Austin Slater led off with an infield hit and, after singles by Flores and Darin Ruf loaded the bases, scored on Pederson’s sacrifice fly to left off D-Backs reliever Kenyan Middleton.

Arizona tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth when Carson Kelly hit a ground rule double to right, moved to third Alek Thomas’ groundout, and scored on a single by Geraldo Perdomo to right-center.

The three-game series concludes on Wednesday, with Alex Cobb (3-3, 4.59) on the mound for the Giants, facing Merrill Kelly (7-5, 3.46) for the D-Backs in a matchup of right-handers. Game time is 6:40 p.m.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Prior to the game, San Francisco activated SS Brandon Crawford from the 10-day IL, while C Curt Casali was placed on the IL (right oblique strain). LHP Jose Alvarez returned to the Giants following a rehab assignment and was reinstated from the 15-day IL.

INF Donovan Walton was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. … The Giants challenged a call in the top of the seventh, when Austin Wynns’ fly down the left field line was trapped by Arizona left-fielder Cooper Hummel.

After review, it was ruled a single and run batted in for Wynns. … D-Backs LHP Joe Mantiply holds the MLB record for consecutive appearances by a left-hander without issuing a walk with 32. … Attendance was 14,437.