Webster wins in Diamondbacks debut against Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Allen Webster was a bit nervous making his Diamondbacks debut, and it showed when the Arizona right-hander walked two of the first four batters he faced.

A quick pep talk from longtime friend and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was all it took to settle him down.

Webster pitched into the sixth inning, Paul Goldschmidt had two hits and an RBI and the Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Saturday.

“I was still trying to feel it out and, I’m not going to lie, I definitely had the jitters,” Webster said. “Once I came back into the dugout, Salty was able to settle me down and we got out there and got into a good rhythm together. We just rolled with it.”

Webster, who spent the first two months in the minors after starting 11 games for Boston last season, was called up before the game and didn’t allow a hit until Joe Panik’s double with one out in the sixth. He gave up two runs and two hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

David Peralta and A.J. Pollock added two hits apiece for the Diamondbacks, who have won five of the last six against the defending World Series champs.

“(Webster) did a great job,” Arizona manager Chip Hale said. “A lot of groundballs, and with this defense we have we’re always comfortable with that. That’s something we liked about him when we traded for him.”

Buster Posey had an RBI double for San Francisco, which has lost seven straight at AT&T Park, its longest skid at home since 2008.

It’s the second consecutive game in which an Arizona pitcher took a no-hitter into the sixth against San Francisco. Chase Anderson didn’t allow a hit until the seventh inning of Friday’s 1-0 win.

“The offense right now, we’re out of synch,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said “The first five innings we looked dead.”

Webster (1-0) walked two of the first four batters he faced then settled down to retire 14 straight before running into trouble in the sixth.

Nori Aoki drew a one-out walk and Panik doubled. Angel Pagan drove in Aoki with a sacrifice fly and Posey followed with an RBI double.

Three relievers completed the four-hitter. Brad Ziegler pitched the ninth for his eighth save.

The Diamondbacks drew four walks off Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong (4-5) in the first and gave Webster a three-run lead before he even took the mound.

David Peralta hit an RBI single while Saltalamacchia and Nick Ahmed both walked with the bases loaded to force in two runs.

“We’re not the most patient team, and I think we recognized … he just wasn’t himself early,” Hale said of Vogelsong. “He wasn’t able to get the ball on those corners. Guys did a nice job letting him throw pitches and get on base.”

Goldschmidt’s two-out single in the fourth made it 4-0.

Vogelsong allowed six hits in 3 2-3 innings and had a season-high five walks.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP J.C. Ramirez was designated for assignment. Ramirez was 1-1 with a 4.11 ERA in 12 appearances this season. … RHP Enrique Burgos (shoulder tendinitis) is expected to begin a rehab assignment early next week.

Giants: RF Hunter Pence (wrist tendinitis) could resume baseball activities as early as next week. … OF Gregor Blanco (concussion) is sleeping better but the team is still unsure when he’ll return from the DL. … RHP Jake Peavy (back strain) threw a bullpen session Saturday and will make a rehab start Tuesday in Sacramento. … RHP Matt Cain (flexor tendon strain) will make his rehab start Monday in Sacramento as well.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Rubby De La Rosa (4-3) pitches the series finale and needs four strikeouts to set a career high. De La Rosa has fanned 71 batters in 74 innings this season.

Giants: RHP Chris Heston (6-4) will chase history when he attempts to become only the second pitcher in major league history to throw consecutive no-hitters. The San Francisco rookie, who no-hit the New York Mets in his previous start on June 9, looks to join Johnny Vander Meer almost 75 years after the Cincinnati Reds left-hander threw back-to-back no-hitters against the Boston Bees on June 11 and the Brooklyn Dodgers on June 15.