San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson is hit by a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks’ Scott McGough during the eighth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Fri May 12, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Friday, May 12, 2023

PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Fireworks Night at Chase Field on Friday, Arizona’s Dominic Fletcher gave the fans a preview to the postgame festivities with a home run and a run-scoring double to help the Diamondbacks defeat San Francisco 7-5.

Fletcher, hitting in the No. 9 slot, was 3-for-4 with four runs batted in.

“(Fletcher) swung the bat well,” Diamondbacks interim manager Jeff Banister said. “He’s put together some terrific at-bats, great power, has a really good plan up there. In my opinion, he doesn’t really get overwhelmed by the situation. He looks very confident in the box. He gets quality at-bats for us every night he’s in there for us.”

Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker added, “He’s been great. He’s a hard worker, has a feel for the game, plays with a lot of energy and intensity. He’s in every at-bat and puts together competitive at-bats.”

Arizona scored twice in the sixth to regain the lead at 6-4. Ahmed drew a one-out walk, followed by a Gabriel Moreno single. Fletcher doubled to center, driving in Ahmed. While Emmanuel Rivera was batting, Giants catcher Blake Sabol was charged with a passed ball, allowing Moreno to score and Fletcher to advance to third.

Gurriel’s RBI double in the bottom of the seventh extended Arizona’s lead to 7-4. Gurriel’s line drive to left-center plated Josh Rojas, who led off the inning with a double after replacing Walker, who was ejected in the sixth inning.

“I think it was a carryover from the check-swing at-bat,” Banister said. “He’s just a very competitive player for us. Obviously, that’s not what he wanted in that situation.

“That was a decision the umpires made, and it’s a decision we have to live with.”

Walker said, “I’m assuming my body language from the half-inning before had (the umpires’) attention on me. But there was no words said. I thought I could have avoided it, but I feel like I have to stand up for myself.”

The Giants cut their deficit to 7-5 in the eighth when Joc Pederson was hit by a Scott McGough pitch and scored on Casey Schmitt’s double to right off Diamondbacks reliever Andrew Chafin.

Earlier, Pederson’s fifth home run of the year, a two-run drive to left, gave the Giants a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. LaMonte Wade Jr., who led off the game with a base hit, also scored.

The Giants extended their early lead to 3-0 when Michael Conforto led off the second with his sixth home run of the season.

Arizona came back in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 3-3 on Dominic Fletcher’s three-run home run. After Lourdes Guriel Jr. singled and Nick Ahmed walked, Fletcher sent his first home run of the season to deep left off Giants reliever Ross Stripling.

The Diamondbacks surged ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the third when Evan Longoria sent a drive to deep left for his fifth round-tripper of the season. But San Francisco tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fifth when Wade doubled and scored on a single by Pederson.

San Francisco opted for a bullpen game. Opener John Brebbia struck out two, walked one and gave up one hit in a scoreless first. Brebbia was followed by Stripling, who gave up four earned runs in 3 1/3 innings; Jakob Junis (2-2), who surrendered the go-ahead runs in 1 2/3; Alex Wood, and Scott Alexander.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said, “Brebbia has done a real nice job for us in the past and got us through the first inning. Then we had to get through the game with support guys. Woody is going to start the game for us on Monday, so we couldn’t really extend him at all.”

Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson worked 4 2/3 innings, striking out four and issuing one walk. He also gave up four earned runs on seven hits. Anthony Misiewicz (1-0) picked up the win, throwing 1 1/3 shutout innings. Kyle Nelson, McGough and Chafin each were credited with a hold, and Miguel Castro got two out in the ninth to earn his second save.

On Saturday, Anthony DeSclafani (3-2, 2.80) faces the Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen (5-1, 2.36) in a battle of righthanders. Game time is 5:10 p.m.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: D-Backs coach Jeff Banister filled in as manager as Torey Lovullo was attending his son’s graduation from Northern Arizona University. Banister was the American League Manager of the Year at Texas in 2015. … Going into Friday’s game, Fletcher was hitting .419 in his first 10 big league games. … Giants LHP Alex Wood returned from his rehab assignment and was reinstated from the 15-day IL. RHP Cole Waites was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento after Thursday’s game. … INF Casey Schmitt joined Hall-of-Famer Willie McCovey (1959) as the only Giants to get eight hits in their first three career games. … Announced attendance was 19,266; time of game was 2:56.