SAN FRANCISCO — Steven Souza Jr. homered leading off the third to end Arizonas 25-inning scoreless drought, then hit an RBI double the next inning and backed Zack Godley with a defensive gem that helped the Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Godley (14-7) struck out six over 7 2/3 innings of two-hit ball and increased his career best for wins as first-place Arizona moved a half-game ahead of idle Colorado in the NL West.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo vowed to switch things up as needed to try to give his club a spark, going with Souza leading off in a move that proved spot on.
Lovullo said he will “do something a little outside the box” as necessary down the stretch, with everybody understanding each game is now so crucial in the playoff chase.
Before Souzas fourth home run of the year, the Diamondbacks hadnt scored since the third inning of Sundays 5-2 win against the Mariners.
Souza also made a magnificent, diving, backhand catch on the warning track after the right fielder ran down pinch-hitter Gregor Blancos deep fly to the gap in right-center. Souza tipped his cap after the play.
San Francisco had its four-game winning streak snapped, one victory shy of matching its longest of the season from May 30 to June 4. The Giants missed a chance to sweep the Diamondbacks in a series of three or more games for the first time since July 2016.
Godley, who is 6-0 over his last eight road starts, hit three Giants batters with pitches through five innings. The last time a Diamondbacks pitcher had three hit batsmen was Ian Kennedy on Aug. 9, 2010, against the Brewers.
Godley gave way to Archie Bradley after allowing a two-out single to Gorkys Hernandez and pinch-hitter Hunter Pences walk. Bradley allowed Andrew McCutchens RBI single but retired Joe Panik on a called third strike to end the inning.
Brad Boxberger got the final two outs on strikeouts for his 30th save.
Giants rookie Dereck Rodriguez (6-2) lost for the first time in 13 appearances — 12 starts — since June 9 at Washington. He walked a season-high four in five innings, allowing five hits with three strikeouts in his second start since coming off the disabled list from a strained right hamstring.
STOP SIGN
Arizona shortstop Nick Ahmed met with third base coach Tony Perezchica to discuss signals after a costly mistake a night earlier that Lovullo described as “maybe just a little gap in communication.”
In a scoreless game, Ahmed was thrown out at home to end the eighth as he tried to come home from first on pinch-hitter David Peraltas single to deep right-center.
Ahmed saw Perezchicas initial, aggressive wave but then ran through a stop sign while charging for home.
“Theyre both claiming some responsibility,” Lovullo said.
From now on with Ahmed, Perezchica will both give a stop sign and a verbal command.
UP NEXT
Left-hander Robbie Ray (3-2, 4.73 ERA) pitches for Arizona in its opener of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are one game behind the Diamondbacks in the NL West.
SAN FRANCISCO — Steven Souza Jr. homered leading off the third to end Arizonas 25-inning scoreless drought, then hit an RBI double the next inning and backed Zack Godley with a defensive gem that helped the Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Godley (14-7) struck out six over 7 2/3 innings of two-hit ball and increased his career best for wins as first-place Arizona moved a half-game ahead of idle Colorado in the NL West.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo vowed to switch things up as needed to try to give his club a spark, going with Souza leading off in a move that proved spot on.
Lovullo said he will “do something a little outside the box” as necessary down the stretch, with everybody understanding each game is now so crucial in the playoff chase.
Before Souzas fourth home run of the year, the Diamondbacks hadnt scored since the third inning of Sundays 5-2 win against the Mariners.
Souza also made a magnificent, diving, backhand catch on the warning track after the right fielder ran down pinch-hitter Gregor Blancos deep fly to the gap in right-center. Souza tipped his cap after the play.
San Francisco had its four-game winning streak snapped, one victory shy of matching its longest of the season from May 30 to June 4. The Giants missed a chance to sweep the Diamondbacks in a series of three or more games for the first time since July 2016.
Godley, who is 6-0 over his last eight road starts, hit three Giants batters with pitches through five innings. The last time a Diamondbacks pitcher had three hit batsmen was Ian Kennedy on Aug. 9, 2010, against the Brewers.
Godley gave way to Archie Bradley after allowing a two-out single to Gorkys Hernandez and pinch-hitter Hunter Pences walk. Bradley allowed Andrew McCutchens RBI single but retired Joe Panik on a called third strike to end the inning.
Brad Boxberger got the final two outs on strikeouts for his 30th save.
Giants rookie Dereck Rodriguez (6-2) lost for the first time in 13 appearances — 12 starts — since June 9 at Washington. He walked a season-high four in five innings, allowing five hits with three strikeouts in his second start since coming off the disabled list from a strained right hamstring.
STOP SIGN
Arizona shortstop Nick Ahmed met with third base coach Tony Perezchica to discuss signals after a costly mistake a night earlier that Lovullo described as “maybe just a little gap in communication.”
In a scoreless game, Ahmed was thrown out at home to end the eighth as he tried to come home from first on pinch-hitter David Peraltas single to deep right-center.
Ahmed saw Perezchicas initial, aggressive wave but then ran through a stop sign while charging for home.
“Theyre both claiming some responsibility,” Lovullo said.
From now on with Ahmed, Perezchica will both give a stop sign and a verbal command.
UP NEXT
Left-hander Robbie Ray (3-2, 4.73 ERA) pitches for Arizona in its opener of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are one game behind the Diamondbacks in the NL West.
