Giants Rally Again To Beat Diamondbacks
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS / AP) -- Andres Torres delivered the go-ahead RBI double, Aubrey Huff hit a tying home run and the San Francisco Giants rallied from three runs down for a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.
Miguel Tejada hit a run-scoring single and then doubled with one out in the sixth to chase Diamondbacks starter Armando Galarraga (3-3), setting the stage for another Giants comeback.
He scored on Torres' double to right-center field off reliever Juan Gutierrez to giving San Francisco a season-high fifth straight win. The Giants (20-16) also improved to four games over .500 for the first time this year.
Jonathan Sanchez (3-2) allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. Three relievers kept the Diamondbacks scoreless before Brian Wilson pitched out of jam in the ninth for his 12th save.
The Giants didn't wait so long to come back this time.
After wins in the final at-bat in three of the previous four games, San Francisco fell behind again before squeaking out runs and leaning on its bullpen.
Tejada came through with the one-out double in the sixth, one of three hits on the night for him. Then Gutierrez came in and got pinch-hitter Pat Burrell to fly out to left before Torres' double put San Francisco ahead 4-3.
Ramon Ramirez, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo kept Arizona scoreless over the next two innings. Wilson briefly made things interesting in the ninth—as usual—when Xavier Nady hit a leadoff double.
Gerardo Parra walked and Henry Blanco struck out trying to bunt. Russell Branyan grounded out to first, and then Torres caught Kelly Johnson's flyball against the center-field wall for the final out.
The bullpen's effort was just the kind of pick-me-up that worked so well for the World Series champions last season, and a much-needed boost for the starting pitcher again.
Sanchez struggled with his control again, but managed to minimize the damage.
Johnson had a leadoff double in the first inning, and Stephen Drew drove him in two batters later with a grounder to first base. Blanco had an RBI single in the second and a solo homer to left in the fourth, giving Arizona a 3-0 lead.
That seemed to be a comfortable cushion for Galarraga, although no lead seems to be enough against these Giants lately.
Tejada showed signs of busting out his slump with a run-scoring single with two outs in the fourth. After loading the bases with a walk to Sanchez, Galarraga threw a wild pitch that went to the backstop and scored Aaron Rowand from third.
Huff started the fifth with a solo homer over the right-field wall, tying the score at 3. The home run was Huff's fourth of the season.
Galarraga left after 5 1-3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out four. Arizona has lost three straight games and four of its last five.
Notes: Giants LHP Barry Zito threw off the mound before the game for the first time since he sprained his right foot in a start April 16. He threw about 10 minutes and will have another bullpen session later this week. ... Giants reliever Santiago Casilla will likely make a rehab start for Single-A San Jose over the weekend. The team will make a final decision Thursday. ... Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said right-hander Josh Collmenter will make his first start in the majors Saturday against the Dodgers. Collmenter was brought up from the minors a couple weeks ago and has pitched only in relief. ... The announced attendance was 41,026, the 14th straight sellout to start the season for San Francisco.
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