PHOENIX — After getting swept at AT&T Park last month, the Giants returned the favor this weekend at Chase Field.
Matt Cain pitched seven strong and Brandon Crawford had the go-ahead hit in the top of the ninth as the Giants won 2-1, getting a four-game sweep over the Diamondbacks. They've won five straight for the first time this season.
Coming off his longest start in nearly three years, Cain kept the good vibes going early. He struck out two in the first and two more in the second, and got out of a third-inning jam with a double play.
Trevor Brown gave Cain a lead in the top of the third, lining a solo homer into the left field seats. The homer was Brown’s fourth of the season and first since a two-homer game at Coors Field on April 12. The Diamondbacks tied it up in the fourth. Low-key Giants killer Jake Lamb lined a double, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on Paul Goldschmidt’s deep fly to center.
Cain ran into two-out trouble in the sixth, when two walks and a broken-bat flare to right loaded the bases. Dave Righetti came out for a chat and Cain threw a good breaking ball on the next pitch, getting a pop-up to first.
The Giants had one hit heading into the ninth, but Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt and Crawford hit consecutive singles to put the winning run across.
Santiago Casilla ran into trouble in the bottom of the inning, putting runners on the corners. He got a grounder to second that Joe Panik, Crawford and Belt turned into a gorgeous game-ending double play. The runner at first was initially ruled safe, but a long review confirmed that Belt knows how to pick 'em.
Starting pitching report: Cain made two starts this week, giving up 13 hits and three earned runs in 15 innings. He walked two and struck out 12.
Bullpen report: A day after giving up the tying run, Hunter Strickland entered with a runner on and no outs and got a fielder’s choice and a double play.
At the plate: Belt walked. Again. He has reached base in 23 consecutive games, one short of his career-high.
In the field: Chris Hermann started in center field a day after starting behind the plate, becoming the first to pull that off since Brandon Inge in 2008. He didn't get any action.
Attendance: The Diamondbacks announced a crowd of 25,007 human beings who watched a rigged game of "Floats or Sinks."
Up next: The Padres are so banged-up that they didn’t set their rotation until Sunday. It’ll be Colin Rea, Drew Pomeranz and James Shields against Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija.
