ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Sedona Red Recap: D-backs take opening series of 2017 over Giants

Apr 6, 2017, 10:47 PM

Arizona Diamondbacks Jake Lamb, center, high fives David Peralta (6) and Paul Goldschmidt (44) afte...

Arizona Diamondbacks Jake Lamb, center, high fives David Peralta (6) and Paul Goldschmidt (44) after hitting a three run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX — It took the Arizona Diamondbacks until mid-May to post their first home series win last season.

They needed just one week this season.

Behind solid pitching — both starter and bullpen — and timely hitting, the D-backs clinched the four-game series, beating the San Francisco Giants, 9-3, in front of an announced crowd of 15,308 at Chase Field on Thursday.

The D-backs are 3-1 for the first time since 2013.

Each of the three victories were in comeback fashion.

Jorge De La Rosa earned the win in relief, his first and three players hit home runs: David Peralta, Paul Goldschmidt and Jake Lamb.

Peralta and Goldschmidt went back-to-back to tie the game at 2 in the fourth inning, while Lamb slugged a go-ahead three-run homer, the highlight of a four-run sixth inning.

All three of the home runs were surrendered by Giants starter Jeff Samardzija (0-1).

Starter Robbie Ray pitched into the sixth inning. He recorded the first two outs and then issued a walk and RBI double, prompting a call to the bullpen.

Ray allowed three runs on three hits, including a home run, with three walks and six strikeouts.

Four Arizona relievers combined to hold the Giants scoreless, limiting them to only a single hit the final 3.3 innings.

The D-backs had not won a four-game series over the Giants at Chase Field since September 2008.

THE GOOD

After totaling two hits in three innings against Samardzija, the D-backs exploded for three in the fourth, including back-to-back home runs by Peralta and Goldschmidt that tied the score at 2. For Peralta, it has his first hit of the season. For Goldschmidt, meanwhile, the base knock moved him into sole possession of second place on the club’s all-time hit list, breaking a tie with Steve Finley (847). Up next: Luis Gonzalez (1,337).

Nine men batted in the D-backs four-run sixth inning. Of course, Lamb had the big blast, a three-run home run into the pool area to put the D-backs in front for the first time, 5-3. But how about Jeremy Hazelbaker? He once again came up clutch as a pinch-hitter, lining a two-out, 2-2 fastball into center field for an RBI single, extending the lead to 6-3. A night earlier, Hazelbaker had a pinch-hit run-scoring double.

Making his first start of the season, Chris Herrmann singled in each of his first two at-bats; both base hits landed in center field. He finished 2-for-3 with a walk. Herrmann played left field, giving Yasmany Tomas the night off. Herrmann can play multiple positions, including catcher. Manager Torey Lovullo said before the game he had penciled in Herrmann to be behind the plate on Sunday, the series finale against the Cleveland Indians.

Nothing like some insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. A.J. Pollock delivered a two-run double and Peralta followed with a double of his own to plate Pollock with the D-backs ninth run of the game. It was Pollock’s lone hit of the game, but it was his eighth of the series, tied for the second most in team history in a single series against the Giants. Pollock, by the way, owns the team record with nine from April 16-19, 2015.

THE BAD

After retiring each of the first seven batters faced, Ray allowed his first hit and first run, both accomplished by former D-back Aaron Hill. Hill, who made the team as a non-roster invitee, ripped a 3-2 93-mph fastball into the seats in left field to give the Giants a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Hill played five seasons in Arizona from 2011-15.

One out away from completing a sixth inning of work, Ray walked Hunter Pence and surrendered a double to Buster Posey; the latter of which went into the left-field corner, allowing Pence to score the go-ahead run, 3-2. By the way, Pence scored from second, having moved up 90-feet on a passed ball (catcher Jeff Mathis) one pitch before Posey hit the double.

Through two innings, Samardzija had recorded five strikeouts, including fanning the side in the second. He struck out the side again in the fifth, giving him a total of nine strikeouts through five innings. Lamb twice was a victim, going down swinging in the second and caught looking in the fourth. And in each at-bat, Lamb saw only three pitches, mainly fastballs.

STAT OF THE GAME

.394: The D-backs went 13-for-33 (.394) with runners in scoring position in the four-game series, including going 4-for-7 in the series-clinching victory

HE SAID IT

“We feel very good about it,” Lovullo said, referring to the 3-1 start. “These guys earned everything that they did over these past four games, and it’s a great way for us to start the season.”

NOTED

– Ray has struck out five or more batters in 15 straight starts at home, the fourth-longest streak in team history.

– The D-backs are two-games above .500 for the first time since Sept. 25, 2013, when their record was 80-78.

– The D-backs’ 2-3-4 hitters all homered in the same game for the first time since June 10, 2015, at the Dodgers.

– With a first-pitch temperature of 87 degrees at 6:40 p.m., the game was played with both the roof and panels open.

– As part of Throwback Thursday, the D-backs wore their alternate home vest uniform (worn from 1998-2006).

– Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson threw out the ceremonial first pitch and took batting practice, too.

– NBA players Nick Collison and Doug McDermott — Oklahoma City plays the Suns on Friday — were at the game.

UP NEXT

The season-opening homestand continues with a visit from last year’s American League pennant winners, the Cleveland Indians, who were just in town a week earlier for a pair of exhibition games.

Now, the matchups count.

The three-game series starts with right-handers Shelby Miller and Josh Tomlin on the mound on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning 40 minutes earlier on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

Miller begins his second season with the D-backs. His first ended with three wins in 20 starts and a 6.15 ERA.

Miller has never faced the Indians.

Tomlin, meanwhile, has two previous appearances against the D-backs. He sports a 1.46 ERA, allowing two runs in 12.1 innings with eight strikeouts and zero walks.

Tomlin finished 2016, his seventh in the majors, with 13 wins in 30 games, including 29 starts.

This is the first regular season meeting between the two teams since 2014 when they split a four-game, home-and-home series.

Overall, the D-backs are 7-9 all-time against the Indians.

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