D-Backs close out series against Giants with a win

Max Scherzer threw seven and two-thirds shutout innings and Chad Qualls pitched out of trouble in the ninth as the Arizona Diamondbacks edged the San Francisco Giants 2-1 in the finale of a three-game series Thursday at Chase Field.

Scherzer (3-4, 3.63 ERA) limited the visiting Giants to three hits and a walk as the Diamondbacks snapped a three-game losing streak. The second-year right-hander struck out six batters and threw 80 of his 116 pitches for strikes in what was the longest outing of his major-league career.

“I had a good feel for my off-speed stuff today,” Scherzer said. “To be able to command a slider and a changeup, I think that’s what really allowed me to go deep in the game.”

After allowing a single to Giants leadoff hitter Aaron Rowand to begin the game, Scherzer retired the next 11 batters before walking Pablo Sandoval with two outs in the fourth. Rowand, who doubled in the sixth, was the only runner to reach second base against Scherzer.

“He was in control,” Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said about Scherzer. “He pitched to contact and used our defense. We made some good defensive plays behind him. He had a good tempo going. He threw strikes early.”

Scherzer pitched into the eighth inning, when he gave up a leadoff single to Randy Winn before getting Rich Aurilia to ground into a double play. After Scherzer hit Bengie Molina with a pitch with two outs, Hinch brought in reliever Tony Pena, who retired Rowand on a fly ball to center field to end the inning.

The Diamondbacks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when Justin Upton belted a home run into the swimming pool area beyond the fence in right-center field. The solo homer represented the only run that was surrendered by San Francisco starter Jonathan Sanchez, who allowed three hits in five and two-thirds innings. Sanchez (2-6, 4.84 ERA) walked seven and struck out five.

The Diamondbacks added their second run in the seventh on an RBI single by Upton.

Qualls was called upon to protect Arizona’s 2-0 lead in the top of the ninth. After Qualls struck out Nate Schierholtz to begin the inning, Juan Uribe was safe on an error by D-backs first baseman Mark Reynolds.

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Things began to get dicey when Sandoval singled to left-center field. After Fred Lewis hit a chopper back to the mound for the second out (with the runners advancing to second and third), Qualls heaved a wild pitch that allowed Uribe to score and Sandoval to move to third.

With the potential tying run 90 feet away, Qualls struck out pinch hitter Edgar Renteria to end the game and post his 13 th save.
With the victory, the Diamondbacks (26-35) were able to salvage one win in the three-game set against the Giants (31-28).

By: Tom Kessler
MLBcenter.com Arizona Diamondbacks correspondent

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