San Francisco Giants pitcher Keaton Winn is fired up after getting the last out in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tue May 19, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

While the back-to-back home runs were exciting it was the sensational San Francisco (21-28) defense that almost put this game on ice. The Giants took the lead in the second inning with back-to-back solo home runs off the bats of Rafael Devers and Willy Adames but this had to be one of the best defensive games the Giants have played this season.

San Francisco fought off back-to-back bases loaded situations in the seventh and eighth innings. When victory was so very close with two outs in the ninth inning disaster struck when Ketel Marte hit a home run with two runners on base for the walk-off 5-3 (23-24) taking the series lead 2-0.

Game recap: The Diamondbacks got an early start scoring in the bottom of the first taking a 1-0 lead. San Francisco put Arizona on notice in the second inning with a flurry of hits. They tied up the game when Rafael Devers hit the first home run, a solo shot. The Devers long ball was followed by a Willy Adames home run giving the Giants a 2-1 lead. The Giants had more up their sleeve. Matt Chapman singled and a Daniel Susac double brought Chapman home extending their lead to 3-1. It had been the perfect start for San Francisco.

Both teams put on the brakes in the third and fourth innings, in fact neither team would score going into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Giants had a single in the third and a walk in the fourth inning. The Diamondbacks went three and out in both innings.

San Francisco got going in the top of the fifth via a Casey Schmitt single followed by a Devers double with two outs. Adames grounded out to end the top of the inning and the Giants had stranded a pair. Arizona had a couple of singles in the bottom of the inning but also left them stranded, the score remaining 3-1 in favor of San Francisco.

In the top of the sixth inning the Giants again stranded a pair. Daniel Susac had his second hit of the game and Chapman had walked. An insurance run or two would be what the Giants would be looking for in the latter innings. The Diamondbacks were hitting some rockets but the San Francisco defense was handling those hits pretty easily.

The Giants went three and out in the top of the seventh. After the seventh inning stretch, the Diamondbacks started off the bottom of the inning with a Nolan Arenado double followed by a Ildemaro Vargas single and Arizona had runners at the corners with no outs.

Giants pitcher Keaton Winn would load the bases with only one out. Once again the Giants came up with an amazing double play and the San Francisco defense continued to dominate. Arizona couldn’t get anything past them.

Going into the top of the eighth inning this game had seen five scoreless innings for both teams. It was the San Francisco defense that was holding onto the 3-1 lead. All the damage in the game had been done back in the second inning.

Again Arizona loaded the bases with only one out and San Francisco was facing another challenge. The Giants would be looking to Caleb Kilian to get out of this mess. Again San Francisco would turn the double play and get out of the inning.

The Giants would go three and out in the ninth. They were three outs away from tying the series. San Francisco got the first two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Diamondbacks continued to fight scoring a run in the ninth.

With Ildemaro Vargas on base Adrian Del Castillo singled and it was a one run game 3-2. Arizona had a 2 out, 2 on situation. With Jose Fernandez and Ryan Waldschmidt on base Ketel Marte hit a home run and the Diamondbacks had the walk-off 5-3. San Francisco fought so hard in this game making this loss a tough one.

San Francisco starting pitcher finished the game going six innings allowing seven hits, one run, no walks and three strikeouts. Relief pitcher Keaton Winn got the GIants out of the bases loaded situation in the seventh inning and together Erik Miller and Caleb Kilian would get out of another bases loaded in the eighth. It just fell apart in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Game notes: The Giants came into Chase Field last night brimming with confidence after winning a series over the weekend against the Athletics. They were however treated with a dose of their own medicine losing the first game of the series with the Diamondbacks by a landslide 12-2 on Monday night.

San Francisco could not get much going at the plate finishing the game with eight hits but only the two runs. The Diamondbacks were hitting lights out with 16 hits and the 12 runs. Tuesday night San Francisco will be tried to get back in the series by winning game two but lost on a walk off three run home run by Ketel Marte in the last of the ninth with two out.

Wednesday the Giants will try to avoid a sweep after the disheartening walk-off win for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. Tyler Mahle will take the mound for the Giants. His win/loss record is 1-5 and his ERa 5.59. Arizona will start Merrill Kelly coming into the game with a 3-3 win/loss record and a 5.91 ERA. First pitch for game three is scheduled to start at 3:40 PM.