Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023

Chase Field

Phoenix, Arizona

San Francisco Giants 1 (76-76)

Arizona Diamondbacks 7 (81-72)

Win: Merrill Kelly (12-7)

Loss: Logan Webb (10-13)

Time: 2:30

Attendance: 16,848

By Stephen Ruderman

Photo courtesy of Rob Schumacher of the Arizona Republic

PHEONIX–The Diamondbacks completed a short two-game sweep of the Giants, further dashing the Giants’ already-dwindling playoff hopes. Arizona took game two on Wednesday 7-1 at Chase Field.

After dropping Tuesday night’s series opener, the Giants needed a win to stay afloat in the wild card race. They came into Wednesday’s game three games back of the Chicago Cubs for the third wild card, and three and a half games back of the Diamondbacks for the second wild card.

Giants Manager Gabe Kapler turned to his ace, Logan Webb, and Webb would be opposed by Merrill Kelly. LaMonte Wade stepped in, and led off the game with a home run in the first inning and just like the first inning Tuesday night, the Giants scored and struck first. 

However, the Diamondbacks struck back in the first off Webb, Corbin Carroll led off the bottom of the first inning with a base-hit; stole second; and got to third on a ground ball. With two outs, Christian Walker stepped in and hit a chopper to third that Giants’ third-baseman J.D. Davis charged, but couldn’t get Walker in time, which tied the game at 1-1.

Kelly set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the second, and Webb pitched a quick and quiet bottom of the second. The Giants wasted an opportunity in the top of the third, and then the Diamondbacks pounced in the bottom of the third.

Geraldo Perdomo grounded out to start the inning, but Corbin Carroll then singled; stole second; and advanced to third when Patrick Bailey’s throw sailed into center field. Katel Marte walked, and Tommy Pham just beat out the back end of a 6-4 fielder’s choice, which allowed Carroll to score and the Diamondbacks to take the lead. Christian Walker singled, and Alek Thomas doubled in Pham to give the Diamondbacks a 3-1 lead.

From there, Merrill Kelly was on cruise control, as he pitched 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, fifth and sixth, and set down 11-straight batters he faced. As for Webb, he escaped trouble in the bottom of the fourth, and pitched quick and scoreless fifth and sixth innings. Webb ended up giving up just three runs over six innings, but like much of the season, the run support was not there.

“We’re all disappointed that we haven’t been able to support Webb with run support,” said Kapler. “It doesn’t take away from the excellent season that he’s had. [With] the innings that he’s been able to pile up, [as well as the] games he’s been able to keep in, he’s just been one of the best pitchers in baseball, and I don’t think that’s disputable.”

Michael Conforto laced a double down the right-field line to start the top of the seventh and give the Giants a chance. However, Luis Matos flew out to center, and Patrick Bailey moved Conforto to third on a ground out to second.

Wilmer Flores pinch-hit, and drew a walk, and that did it for Kelly, as Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo brought in Ryan Thompson to face Thairo Estrada. Estrada proceeded to strike out, as he lunged at a pitch in the dirt to end the inning, and it was another opportunity wasted for the Giants.

Ryan Walker came in for Webb in the bottom of the seventh, and the Diamondbacks made the Giants pay. Carroll and Marte led off the inning with back-to-back home runs, as for Carroll, it was his fourth hit of the day, and that would not be all for Arizona. 

Pham struck out swinging, but Christian Walker doubled to get another rally going. Alek Thomas struck out looking, and after Lourdes Guriel walked, Sean Hjelle, who was brought up this morning from Triple-A Sacramento, was brought in to replace Walker. Gabriel Moreno and Emmanuel Rivera each knocked in a run with back-to-back singles. That capped off a four-run inning for Arizona, as they opened their lead to 7-1.

Mike Yastrzemski drew his third walk of the game in the top of the eighth, but the Giants were unable to do anything with it. Hjelle pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, and then Kyle Nelson came in to set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth.

The Giants fall back to .500 at 76-76, as they have lost five of their last six to start this road trip. They have also gone 5-25 in their last 30 road games dating back to July 19. The Giants’ also fall to four and a half games behind the Diamondbacks, who won the season series, and thus hold any potential tiebreaker. The Giants are three and a half games back of the third wild card, the Cubs and the Marlins lost their games Wednesday night.

“The math is not on our side,” said Kapler. “Every game [left] is one that we have to win.”

The Giants’ season is now on life support, as they are three and four games back of the final wild card spot with 10 games to go. Things won’t get any easier, as they will be heading to Los Angeles for a four-game series, which will also be the final road series of the year for the Giants.

Notes:

• The Giants have placed Alex Cobb on the 10-Day Injured List, and he will be out for the remainder of the season. Cobb has been pitching with an injured right hip over his last several starts. However, Cobb Left Tuesday Night’s game in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks after throwing two balls to start the bottom of the third inning. It was his first first start in eight days. Cobb made the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, but he has struggled since August, going 1-4 with a 6.18 ERA in his last eight starts. Ryan Walker was also placed on the Injured List, and Kyle Harrison and Sean Hjelle were called up to take their places.

• Brandon Crawford left the game in the third inning due to right hamstring tightness. Manager Gabe Kapler said it could be an IL situation.

• Giants Director of Pitching Brian Bannister, who has been with the team since 2020, is expected to join the Chicago White Sox Front Office next season.