Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera, right, tags out San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey at home during the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Aug 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

Arizona (57-52). 200 000 000. – 2. 5. 1

San Francisco (60-49). 000 022 00x. – 4 10 1

Time; 2:13

Attendance: 28,956

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Slade Cecconi made his major league debut this evening, starting for the Arizona Diamondbacks in a bid halt their slide from first place in the NL West to the third slot they continue to occupy after their 4-2 defeat by in tonight’s game.

Cecconi, a first round draft pick out of the University of Miami, had gone 4-8, 6.38 with 104 strikeouts in 20 starts for the Reno Aces in 20 in the hitter friendly PCL before his call up yesterday. He made a good first impression.

After walking Michael Conforto, the second batter he faced, the rookie didn’t allow a baserunner until Wilmer Flores banged a double off the four smiling cars in the left field Chevron. advertisement with one out in the fourth. Cecconi worked his way out of that difficulty, but the novelty had worn off.

JD Davis led off the home fifth with a single to left center and scored on Brandon Crawford’s mighty triple to right. Crawford went to third on a single by Isan Díaz. Diaz got wiped out by a double play, but Crawford scored the tying run on Wade’s two bagger to the right field corner.

In all, Cecconi went 4-2/3 innings before being relieved by Tyler Gilbert. The starter allowed two runs, both earned, on four hits and a walk. He delivered 59 pitches, 36 for strikes. His no decision left him with an ERA of 3.86.

The youngster faced an established veteran. Logan Webb, with his slate at 8-9, 3.49 at game time, had won more games for the 2023 Giants than any other hurler on the staff. Tonight, after a weak opening frame , the righty was masterful.

In all, Webb spent seven innings on the hill and allowed two runs, both earned and coming in the first frame. He surrendered four hits and a walk, striking out five. He threw 105 pitches, only 37 of which were balls. He earned the win, improving his record to 9-9, 3.45. Like Cecconi, he got a no decision.

Arizona got off to an early two run lead. Geraldo Perdomo opened the game with a clean single to right and stole second while Ketel Marte was in the process of striking out. Perdomo then moved on to third on a throwing error by last night’s strong and accurately armed hero, Patrick Bailey.

Bailey came home on Corbin Carroll’s ground out to short, which might easily have gone for a hit if it weren’t for a sparkling play by Crawford. An automatic double to left by Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. followed by Jace Peterson’s humpbacked single to center brought Gurriel home with the Rattlesnakes’ second tally.

The Giants tied went ahead with Gilbert still on the mound in the sixth Back to back to back singles by Flores, Pederson, and Bailey clogged the basepaths.

A double to left by Davis plated the first two runners. Scott McGough got the Diamondbacks back to their dugout, retiring Matos after Gilbert had managed to get the second out. San Francisco now was up, 4-2. Gilbert would prove to be the losing pitcher; his record now is 0-2, 4.50.

The seventh inning stretch took an encore when, with Austin Slater, who had pinch hit for Conforto in the fifth at bat, a streaker interrupted the on field action. Needless to say, the intruder was chased, captured, and led off the playing field.

Tyler Rogers, the right hander, pitched a scoreless eighth for SanFrancisco, and lefty Joe Mantiply set the Giants down in order in their half of the inning.

If it’s the top of the ninth at Oracle Park, it must be Camilo Doval on the mound. It was, and he earned his 32nd save by not retiring the side in order.

At 60-49, the Giants now are in second place in the NL West, three games ahead of Arizona and two games behind the Dodgers, who still were playing the A’s when the game here ended.

The four game series winds up, Thursday Aug 3 at 12:45. Arizona has announced Brandon Pfaadt (0-4, 8.20) as their probable pitcher. The Giants haven’t made their announcement yet for a starter.