Game Recap: D-Backs Win, Salvage The Last Game Of The Series

Jul 21, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Randall Delgado (48) pitches during the first inning in a game against the San Francisco Giants at AT

In the rubber game of the three-game series between the Arizona Diamondbacks (51-47) and San Francisco Giants (45-52), the D-Backs emerged victorious, holding their division rival to just one run in the 3-1 win on Sunday evening. After dominating Arizona in the first two games of the series, the Giants could not find much of an offensive rhythm and lost for the first time since the All-Star break.

Starting pitcher Randall Delgado (2-3) earned the victory for the Diamondbacks. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits and striking out two. He improved his ERA to a respectable 3.43. The bullpen was able to secure the victory, not even allowing a hit until Brad Ziegler took the mound in the bottom of the ninth. Ziegler, who let up two hits and one run, recorded his fourth save of the season.

The Snakes did not waste any time, scoring in the first inning. After Martin Prado‘s triple with one out, All-Star Paul Goldschmidt stepped up to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to left field, driving in Prado. The score would remain 1-0 until the top of the eighth, when Cody Ross lined a single to right field, which scored Prado and Goldschmidt.

Jul 21, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado (14) slides in for a score during the first inning in a game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

Madison Bumgarner (10-6) suffered the hard-luck loss for the Giants. He went 7 innings, striking out six while giving up just five hits and one earned run. San Francisco’s lack of offense, combined with their shaky bullpen, however, did not help out the young lefty.

In the ninth inning, when San Francisco managed to get on the scoreboard, it was simply too little, too late. It took two fielding errors by the D-Backs, but the Giants finally scored off of a ground out by Kensuka Tanaka, which brought home Hunter Pence and broke the shutout.

This was a big game for both teams. The Diamondbacks secured sole possesion of first place for at least one more day, while the San Francisco Giants fell, once again, to 5 1/2 games back. The Los Angeles Dodgers (50-47) swept the Washing Nationals (48-50) and remain right in the D-Backs’ rearview mirror, just 1/2 game behind the division lead.

Arizona will be back at Chase Field, hosting the Chicago Cubs tomorrow night. Stay tuned for a series preview.