The D-backs and Giants traded runs last night, but in the end San Francisco prevailed, winning in the bottom of the ninth inning 5-4. Eugenio Velez’ game-winning single picked up Brian Wilson after he had blown the save only minutes earlier.
Barry Zito had a decent day, his curveball was working, it struck out nine batters, and he walked just three in six innings of work. However, he did allow Arizona to take an early 2-0 lead in the second inning, through six innings of work he only gave up five hits, four were singles, and the other a double. Keiichi Yabu pitched two perfect innings in relief of Zito after the Giants had tied and taken a two-run lead in the eighth. Yabu was in position to earn the win, but Giants closer Brian Wilson gave up a two-run, game-tying homer to catcher Chris Snyder that felt like a punch to the stomach.
Defensive replacement Velez got a chance to hit in the bottom of the ninth, and made the most of it, driving in Pablo Sandoval with a game-winning single. Sandoval had led off the inning with a single, and then moved to second when Nate Schierholtz walked. Omar Vizquel followed up with a fly out to left, and then with one out Velez singled to right, allowing Sandoval to score ahead of the tag. Schierholtz scored two early runs in the game, reaching base twice, once via the walk, and another with a triple. Rich Aurilia was the only Giant with a multi-hit day, he went three-for-five with singles, one of which helped drive in a run.
The Giants will go for a sweep of the slumping D-backs this afternoon at 12:45 p.m. Brad Hennessey will take Kevin Correia’s spot in the rotation, but has had a bad history against Arizona, going 0-2 with with a 4.73 ERA. Dan Haren will start for the D-backs, but he has also struggled lately, getting knocked around in four of his last six starts.
