September 24, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants outfielder Michael Conforto (8) hits a three-run hit in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field Celebrating with catcher Patrick Bailey (14) and first baseman Lamont Wade Jr. (31) after a home run. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images The San Francisco Giants hit eight home runs in the first two games of their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Giants hope to complete a series sweep and end a nine-game road trip Wednesday night against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
Suddenly hot San Francisco (79-79) has won a season-high five straight games and is 7-1 on the road against the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals.
The Giants hit three homers in a 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks on Monday and then blasted five in an 11-0 loss on Tuesday to give Arizona's playoff hopes a boost. Come a heavy blow.
The Diamondbacks (87-71) have lost three straight games and don't look like a team fighting for a playoff spot on Tuesday.
“Usually I try to filter things and come up with some positives, but I didn't think there were a lot of positives to come out of this game,” Arizona head coach Tory Lovullo said. “We have to play better baseball.”
The Diamondbacks were third in the National League Wild Card Derby, half a game behind the New York Mets and just a half game ahead of the Atlanta Braves.
“We want to make the playoffs, and in order to do that, we have to take care of business over the next four games,” Arizona outfielder Corbin Carroll said. “Everything has to be left outside. That's what we plan to do.”
Meanwhile, the Giants wondered what the consequences of their intense performance late in the game would be.
“It's hard to put your finger on it,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Things happen for a reason. We're also getting a lot of young people ready for next year at this time. You can regret it, but you'd rather it happen now than not happen.”
Right-hander Logan Webber handcuffed Arizona batters on Tuesday and gave up four hits in six scoreless innings.
Weber noted that San Francisco didn't fold its tent after being eliminated from the playoffs.
“We're very interested in it,” he said. “I think it's important. It's building a chemistry that you have to be on top of in 162 games. Maybe in those periods when we weren't winning, we were getting more and more nervous and we thought we had to be too. Doing what I thought we'd done well since we got eliminated, this (is bad).
Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Kotel Marte (ankle, back injuries) returned to the starting lineup Tuesday and allowed three runs and one walk. Catcher Gabriel Moreno (adductor) is also back and went 0-for-3.
Arizona ace right-hander Zach Gallen (13-6, 3.74 ERA) has won each of his past four starts and hopes to match his start on Sept. 4, He pitched six hitless innings in San Francisco at the time. Gallen won 6-4, striking out eight and walking four.
That's better than his other game in 2024 against the Giants. On April 20, Galen allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings in a 7-3 loss.
Gallen, 29, has started 15 career games against the Giants and is 5-5 with a 4.12 ERA. Patrick Bailey (3-for-5), Michael Conforto (5-for-21) and Curt Casali (1-for-3) homered against Gallen, while Matt ·Chapman had no hits in seven at-bats.
Giants right-hander Mason Black (1-4, 5.88 ERA) will return to the mound for the first time since his first major league victory last Friday. Black gave up four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Black, 24, homered in each of his first seven major league games – including six starts – before keeping the ball in the park against the Royals.
Black had never faced a Diamondback.
–Scene-level media