By David Brandt
The Associated Press
PHOENIX — Matt Chapman hit an inside-the-park home runCasey Schmitt and Michael Conforto both added solo shots and the San Francisco Giants continued to be a problem for teams with playoff aspirations, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3 on Monday night.
The Diamondbacks (87-70) have fallen further behind in the National League playoff race as they try to capture one of three wild cards. They are the only ones holding 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) hold the top two spots.
The Mets and Braves face off in a crucial three-game series that begins Tuesday in Atlanta.
San Francisco is out of the playoff race, but played very well last week against teams that are still in contention. The Giants are 6-1 against the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals and Diamondbacks.
It was another frustrating loss for Arizona, which lost 8-0 on Sunday and fell 10-9 to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Chapman hit an inside-the-field home run in the third to give the Giants a 3-1 lead. The third baseman hit a ball into one of the deepest parts of the field, in left-center field, and Jake McCarthy, who jumped, couldn’t catch it against the wall. Left fielder Pavin Smith had to retrieve the ball in center field.
Chapman was very fast throughout the game and easily beat Geraldo Perdomo’s throw. Denard Span was the last San Francisco player to hit an inside-the-field home run in 2017.
Schmitt added a solo home run in the fourth inning to make it 4-2. Conforto hit another home run in the fifth inning for a 5-2 lead. Chapman added a triple in the seventh inning, hitting another ball off the outfield wall to finish with three RBIs.
D-backs left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4) allowed five runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out eight batters and walked three.
Christian Walker cut the Giants’ lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning with an RBI double. Joc Pederson also had an RBI double.
San Francisco right-hander Hayden Birdsong (5-5) allowed two runs in five innings. Ryan Walker pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 10th save.
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Diamondbacks: Catcher Gabriel Moreno (oblique) appeared to avoid serious injury despite discomfort in Sunday’s game. He could return to the lineup as early as Tuesday. … Catcher Ketel Marte (ankle) was held out of the starting lineup for a day’s rest, manager Torey Lovullo said. He came on as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.
FOLLOWING
The D-backs will send right-handed pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (10-9, 4.66 ERA) to the mound Tuesday. The Giants will start right-handed pitcher Logan Webb (12-10, 3.58 ERA).
Originally published:
