Diamondbacks drop 3rd straight game, Giants taking advantage of postseason opportunity

The New York Mets are leaving the door open for another team to snatch the third Wild Card spot in the National League with four straight losses, and the San Francisco Giants have won the first two games against the Arizona Diamondbacks this week to reach for it.

The Diamondbacks had their chances on Tuesday, but they stranded two runners in the ninth inning to fall 5-3. The defeat ended Arizona’s streak without a series loss that went back to Aug. 17 in Colorado.

The Giants (74-71) are only two games back of a playoff spot, while the Diamondbacks (72-74) remain seemingly stuck at 4.5 games back with 16 to play.

Zac Gallen tossed 6.2 innings and moved into third on the team’s all-time strikeouts and innings pitched leaderboard on Tuesday, but his four-game quality starts streak ended.

A blown ball four call started his night on an awkward note, and he walked Rafael Devers to set up a jam against the red-hot Willy Adames.

Adames blasted a three-run shot, his 28th of the year as he pushes to become the first Giants player to reach 30 in a season since Barry Bonds in 2004.

Gallen was very good for the rest of the night to finish with 6.2 innings and two more earned runs, but the Diamondbacks never overcame the early deficit.

They came close several times, starting in the fifth in what was the best offensive sequence of Jordan Lawlar’s career. Lawlar banged an RBI double off the wall against Giants starter Robbie Ray, stole third base and scored on a shallow sacrifice fly from Jorge Barrosa to cut the Giants’ lead to 4-2.

Down 5-3, Arizona had runners on second and third with one out in the sixth inning and did not capitalize.

In the ninth inning, the first two runners reached against reliever Ryan Walker, and manager Torey Lovullo maneuvered to his bench. He pinch hit Connor Kaiser, whose last major league at-bat was on Aug. 17, for James McCann to bunt. Kaiser’s bunt popped into the air, and the Giants were able to throw out the lead runner at third. Alek Thomas popped up and Ketel Marte grounded out to end the game.

Arizona out-hit San Francisco 8-5, with two hits from Tim Tawa in his first start since getting recalled on Monday.

The Diamondbacks have lost three straight games at the worst time, and losing a series against a team in the thick of the fight with them lowers their already slim postseason chances.

They will need to turn it around quickly with four more games against the Giants on the schedule.

Up next for Diamondbacks

The series finale on Wednesday starts at 12:45 p.m. MST.

Eduardo Rodriguez gets the ball for Arizona, while San Francisco right-hander Carson Seymour will face the Diamondbacks’ lineup.

Catch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.  

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