D-backs’ Paul Goldschmidt snaps out of slump in loss to Giants
Jun 6, 2018, 4:40 PM | Updated: 7:03 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt drives in a run with a triple against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 9, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Has Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt finally figured it out?
Sure, it feels like a matter of if rather than when because of Goldschmidt’s track record, but the team’s most recent series in San Francisco against the Giants was a sigh of relief for fans to at least see Goldschmidt back at that record of hitting.
Goldschmidt had eight hits in the series, including four on Wednesday in the team’s 5-4 loss to the Giants.
That outing for Goldschmidt broke a franchise record for most four-hit games by a D-back, passing Luis Gonzalez with his 12th such performance.
For the precedence of how much of a slump Goldschmidt was — and still could be — in, it took him the first 21 games of May to reach eight hits in that month, the same amount he had against the Giants in a three-game series.
Goldschmidt doubled in the first against the Giants and would single on his next at-bat in the top of the third. Daniel Descalso’s RBI would score Goldschmidt later in the inning.
In the fifth, Goldschmidt doubled for the second time, bringing home Jarrod Dyson and breaking a 2-2 scoreline for a one-run D-backs lead.
It was a repetitive at-bat in the next inning. Goldschmidt doubled again and scored Dyson again for a 4-2 advantage.
Unfortunately, Goldschmidt’s difference-making performance was negated when Arizona closer Brad Boxberger gave up a two-run HR with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to Giants pinch-hitter Alen Hanson.
It would get worse the next inning.
After the D-backs failed to score with runners on the corners and one out, Brandon Crawford’s RBI single off Andrew Chafin scored the game-winning run, sealing a series loss for the D-backs.
Goldschmidt’s day and the collapse overshadowed what was another good performance out of Clay Buchholz. He pitched six innings of two-run baseball, giving up seven hits, one walk and striking out seven. Buchholz’s ERA on the season through four starts is now 1.88.
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