Matt Chapman hit a home run inside the parkCasey Schmitt and Michael Conforto both scored solo runs as the San Francisco Giants continued to pose a problem for teams with postseason aspirations, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3 on Monday night.
The Diamondbacks (87-70) have lost more ground in the National League playoff race as they try to claim one of the three wild cards. They hold the final wild card, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves (85-71). The San Diego Padres (90-66) and New York Mets (87-69) are in the top two spots.
The Mets and Braves face each other in a crucial three-game series that begins Tuesday in Atlanta.
“I don’t think there’s any pressure,” D-backs center fielder Jake McCarthy said. “We’ve been on the gas pedal all season, so I’ll chalk it up to baseball. We’ll bounce back tomorrow.”
San Francisco is out of the playoff race, but has played extremely well against teams still in the race this past week. The Giants have a 6-1 record against the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals and Diamondbacks.
It was another frustrating loss for Arizona, which surrendered an 8-0 lead on Sunday and lost 10-9 to the Milwaukee Brewers.
“Today we got beat,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “Their pitching was good, we couldn’t generate the offense we normally have and we got beat.”
Chapman’s inside-the-park home run in the third to give the Giants a 3-1 lead. The third baseman hit a liner to one of the deepest parts of the park in left-center field, and a leaping McCarthy couldn’t quite make the catch near the wall. Left fielder Pavin Smith had to retrieve the carom in center field.
Chapman was running the whole way, easily beating Geraldo Perdomo’s relay throw. Denard Span was the last San Francisco player to hit an inside-the-park home run in 2017.
“He seems to be up for anything these days,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said of Chapman. “It just shows everybody how we expect to play going forward.”
Schmitt added a solo homer in the fourth to make it 4-2. Conforto hit another long ball in the fifth for a 5-2 lead. Chapman added a run-scoring triple in the seventh, hitting another ball off the outfield wall to finish with three RBIs.
D-backs lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4) allowed five runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked three.
“If you miss the record, you pay for it, no matter who you play,” Rodriguez said.
Christian Walker cut the Giants’ lead to 3-2 in the fourth with an RBI double. Joc Pederson also had an RBI double.
San Francisco right-hander Hayden Birdsong (5-5) gave up two runs in five innings. Ryan Walker pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 10th save.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: C Gabriel Moreno (oblique) appeared to avoid serious injury despite leaving Sunday’s game with discomfort. He could return to the lineup as early as Tuesday. … 2B Ketel Marte (ankle) was out of the starting lineup for a day of rest, Lovullo said. He entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.
NEXT
The D-backs send RHP Brandon Pfaadt (10-9, 4.66) to the mound against Giants RHP Logan Webb (12-10, 3.58).
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