Brandon Pfaadt makes triumphant return to rotation, Diamondbacks keep piling on Giants
The Diamondbacks extended their winning streak over the Giants, as Brandon Pfaadt could not have been much better in his return to the rotation.
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PHOENIX — Brandon Pfaadt had an opportunity to reset and stretch back out after his last major league stint, and he returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks triumphantly on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants.
In his first big league start since April 11, Pfaadt pushed through 5.1 innings on a pitch count with one run allowed in an 8-2 victory for the Diamondbacks.
Arizona hopped back over .500 at 43-42 and improved to 8-0 against San Francisco this season.
Pfaadt threw 66 pitches, as the right-hander is still building up after the D-backs moved him to the bullpen and then to Triple-A Reno to stretch back out. With injuries to Ryne Nelson and Michael Soroka, there was an opening in the rotation for Pfaadt to come back after he’d previously been squeezed out.
He was scheduled to start on Friday, but with a rain-out on Thursday in St. Louis, the D-backs had to shift their plans. Pfaadt traveled to Tampa Bay and had to turn right around the next morning to throw a bullpen/simulated game in Phoenix.
“That was a crazy 24 hours,” Pfaadt said.
“It was good,” he added about the build-up. “I think it was a great opportunity to get back on track, work on a lot of things, had a lot of good people down there in Reno, (Doug Drabek) and (Jeff Bajenaru) that I worked with when I was in the minors. So that was, I think, a perfect fit and the perfect guys to go back and reset and get back on track.”
The Giants only recorded three hits off Pfaadt, all of which came from Luis Arraez, as Pfaadt’s day ended on an Arraez solo home run.
Pfaadt only struck out two batters, but he walked one and attacked the zone with 42 strikes.
His last start with one run or fewer allowed was back on Sept. 17, 2025, also against the Giants.
“I think the main thing was just being aggressive, being relentless in the strike zone,” Pfaadt said. “That’s something we honed in on in Triple-A and just to kind of get back on track of being aggressive.”
Pfaadt said he felt great physically on Tuesday, explaining he never really felt shortened up or that he could not handle a starter’s workload, even as the team takes caution in moving him along.
Diamondbacks continue to hammer the Giants
The D-backs have outscored the Giants 52-23 during this eight-game winning streak.
Arizona is one win away from matching a franchise-record nine straight victories against the Giants from 2011-12. The club is also a win away from sweeping an opponent for a third straight time in a single season for the first time.
The D-backs are 13-2 against the Giants and Colorado Rockies this season.
If only teams played their division rivals 19 times per season like they used to.
“It happens, there’s no explanation for it,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We just line up well with their pitching? I don’t know exactly what it is. But we’ve played good baseball against them, and that’s why we’re winning games.”
The Diamondbacks led this game from start to finish, scoring three runs in the first and three more in the third off Giants starter Landen Roupp, who struggled mightily with throwing strikes.
Roupp walked six hitters in his 2.2 innings, including two in the first that led to a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. three-run shot. It was Gurriel’s first home run since May 17, and he benefited from an ABS challenge. He flipped a 1-1 count to 2-0 and received a cookie down the middle.
Gurriel has five extra-base hits in his last six games.
Roupp walked another pair in the third inning, including nine-hitter Jorge Barrosa with the bases loaded and two outs. That gave Ketel Marte a chance, and he flared a two-run single to left.
Marte passed Paul Goldschmidt (1,182) for second in Diamondbacks history in hits recorded, and Luis Gonzalez (1,337) is the only player ahead of him.
“It’s a big thing, it means a lot to get another milestone in my career,” Marte said via Spanish interpreter. “I feel really good. Many more things to come.”
Ketel Marte is on a home run heater
Marte extended his lead over Goldschmidt and Arizona’s advantage over the Giants with a no-doubt, solo home run in the sixth inning.
The switch-hitter has blasted home runs in a career-high four straight games and five out of his last six.
Overall, the Diamondbacks finished with 10 hits and seven walks, and all nine starters reached base safely. Marte, Gabriel Moreno, Gurriel and Max Kepler accounted for multiple hits each.
“(Marte is) on an absolute heater, hits another home run, three RBIs,” Lovullo said. “The Gurriel blast. Ten hits, seven walks, with 17 base runners, you’re gonna put up some big offensive numbers. That’s one of those types of games you’re always looking for.”
Ketel Marte homers in a 4th straight game for the first time in his career! pic.twitter.com/psfoWaZokm
— MLB (@MLB) July 1, 2026
Tuesday attendance
20,420
Wednesday starters
In order for the Diamondbacks to secure the sweep, they are going to have to win a game started by Zac Gallen. The D-backs are 1-5 in his last six starts, although the last time Gallen faced the Giants, he threw a quality start.
The Giants will turn to right-hander Trevor McDonald (2-6, 4.94).
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
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