Maxwell Hits HR, Pence Has Key Hit As Giants Beat D-Backs
PHOENIX (AP) Even with his bullpen overworked the previous two days, Giants manager
Bumgarner got by without his best stuff and combined with four relievers to scatter nine hits, and Justin Maxwell homered to help San Francisco beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1.
Bumgarner (10-5) allowed a run
"That was far enough. That's a lot of work," Bochy said of Bumgarner. "When you get that many pitches. he did his job. There's no point in pushing him the way we pushed him last year."
The Giants won their sixth straight game and swept their second straight three-game series.
Bumgarner praised the relievers as George Kontos, Javier Lopez, Hunter Strickland and Santiago Casilla kept the lead.
"We've got guys in the bullpen that are obviously capable
San Francisco relievers combined for 13 2/3 innings in the series.
The Diamondbacks have lost six straight.
Maxwell's seventh home run of the season gave the Giants a 1-0 lead off Arizona starter Patrick Corbin in the second inning. Corbin's hustle then helped even the score in the bottom of the inning when he beat the throw from second base on a double-play attempt.
With the bases loaded and one out, Corbin grounded to Brandon Crawford at shortstop, who got one out at second.Joe Panik's throw to first base was ruled in time to get Corbin, but Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale challenged the call and after review, it was overturned.
Welington Castillo scored from third on the play.
Hunter Pence's double in the third put the Giants ahead.
"We had our chances. We just need a big hit, two-out hits," Hale said. "You saw them pretty much throughout the whole series get them and we didn't. That s what it boils down to."
Bumgarner, fresh off his third career All-Star Game, improved to 4-0 in his last seven starts at Chase Field.
Kontos tossed two innings of scoreless relief. Lopez, Strickland and Casilla combined for two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, with Casilla earning his 24th save.
"Kontos saved us," Bochy said. "He's just done a terrific job all year. I know I've got some guys on fumes. They all came in and got some big outs for us."
With a single, the Giants' Buster Posey has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games.
Corbin (1-2) was charged with both runs and took the loss on his 26th birthday. He allowed four hits, struck out five and walked one.
TAKING A DIVE
Maxwell not only contributed with the bat, he was also handy with the glove. He took a hit away from the Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte with a diving catch of a sinking liner
"It was kind of tough because I was playing the line," Maxwell said. "I lost it in the lights for a second, then got it again right at the end."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: The Giants placed backup C Andrew Susac on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb before Sunday's game. Susac was injured in Saturday night's game. ... Relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt (left shoulder strain) threw his second rehab assignment for Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday and will join the Giants in San Diego this week, Bochy said. But he isn't expected to pitch right away. "We still want to talk to him to see how he feels," Bochy said.
Diamondbacks: Starting pitcher Chase Anderson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right triceps inflammation after pitching 3 2/3 innings on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Tim Hudson is scheduled to face San Diego on Monday night after being activated from the 15-day disabled list. Hudson (5-7) seeks his 220th career win and is 7-4 with a 2.89 earned run average in his career against the Padres.
Diamondbacks: RHP Rubby De La Rosa (6-5) pitches the series opener against Miami on Monday in Phoenix. He's 4-1 in nine home starts, and the Diamondbacks are 5-4 in those starts.
Updated July 19, 2015