Fletcher, Gallen Lead Diamondbacks Past Giants

Dominic Fletcher of the Diamondbacks sprinting around the bases against the Giants.

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

May 14, 2023

Diamondbacks 7, Giants 2

PHOENIX, May 13 — Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Dominic Fletcher went 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, five RBI, and a spectacular run-saving catch on a full sprint, leading his team to a 7–2 victory over the San Francisco Giants Saturday night.

“It was Dom tonight,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “He got the big three-run triple, the big two-run home run. He’s just barreling baseballs. Not to be forgotten was the defensive play that kept that first inning at one run.”

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out six. He outdueled Giants right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, who allowed three runs on five hits across five-plus innings before leaving with an injury.

“Really impressive outing by Zac Gallen,” Lovullo added. “…really impressive outing. In the zone, reading swings, cut fastball, breaking ball, changeup — a lot of things working for him. Gave us a chance to play some catch-up. We were down by a run, and I kept thinking we were going to break through. We were going to have an opportunity to put up a crooked number, which we did.”

Giants Take Lead over Diamondbacks

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The Giants took the lead in a quirky top of the first. Second baseman and leadoff man Thairo Estrada struck out but reached first when the third strike reached the backstop as a wild pitch. Designated hitter and former Diamondback Wilmer Flores followed with a fly to left, the jam shot turning his bat into an oversized toothpick. First baseman “Late Night” LaMonte Wade Jr. lined a sharp single to right, advancing Estrada to third.

Third baseman J.D. Davis blasted a deep drive to the gap in right-center, a shot with all the makings of an extra-base hit. However, rookie right fielder Dominic Fletcher ran it down, making a fantastic running catch on the warning track. Estrada, tagging at third, scored easily for the 1–0 lead. Wade was already between second and third when Fletcher caught it, so he ran as hard as he could to head back to first. Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo relayed Fletcher’s throw to first, making for an easy double play to end the frame.

The Big, Crooked Number

DeSclafani pitched a 1–2–3 bottom of the first before trading zeroes with Gallen over the next four innings. Gallen pitched a 1–2–3 top of the sixth, continuing the pitchers’ duel. The Diamondbacks broke through against DeSclafani in the bottom half. Catcher Jose Herrera led off with a single to left. Third baseman Josh Rojas followed with a sinking liner to right-center. Giants right fielder Michael Conforto narrowly missed on a diving catch attempt, advancing Herrera to third as Rojas reached second with a double. Second baseman Ketel Marte hit a swinging bunt near the third-base line that died in the grass, allowing Marte to reach first as the runners held.

Scott Alexander took over for DeSclafani. As rookie left fielder Corbin Carroll batted, Alexander uncorked a wild pitch, advancing all runners one base. Herrera crossed the plate with the tying run. Carroll ultimately grounded to first unassisted as the runners held, bringing up first baseman Christian Walker. The Giants intentionally walked Walker, loading the bases for designated hitter Pavin Smith. With Alexander being left-handed, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo pinch-hit for Smith with the right-handed-hitting Evan Longoria, who struck out looking. Up came the red-hot Fletcher, who cleared the bases with a triple to the wall in the right-center-field gap. The inning ended when Perdomo grounded to short, but the Diamondbacks now held a 4–1 lead.

Giants Reduce Deficit, Diamondbacks Put Game Away

The Giants narrowed the gap to 4–2 in the top of the eighth. An infield pinch-single by reserve catcher Blake Sabol and fielder’s choice force play by center fielder Brett Wisely put Wisely on first with one out. Estrada lined to second for the second out, but Flores hooked a double to the left-field corner, inches inside the line, to score Wisely from first. This ended Gallen’s day, as Lovullo brought lefty Andrew Chafin in to record the third out of the eighth. Wade grounded to first with the pitcher covering.

Marte and Carroll led off the eighth with singles to center and right, respectively. After Walker flied to the second baseman in shallow center and Longoria struck out looking, Fletcher came to bat. A wild pitch allowed Marte to score all the way from second as Carroll advanced to third, making the score 5–2. Fletcher ultimately made the score 7–2 on a dinger to right.

Anthony Misiewicz and Kyle Nelson combined for a scoreless ninth to seal the victory.

More on Fletcher

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“He’s in a great spot,” Lovullo said when asked more about Fletcher. “What else can you say? He carried us today with five RBIs. And that’s what everybody works for. He probably watched a couple of his teammates, Corbin and Alek (Thomas) and Jake (McCarthy), last year getting this opportunity. He’s been dreaming about it for a long time, and he’s making the most every game and every at-bat. And that’s what we love about him. (He’s) an engaged player, a trustworthy player, and he does it on both sides of the ball.”

Quick Hits

This game featured three double plays of the unconventional variety. The first was the sacrifice-fly double play in the first inning. In the fourth, Walker hit a short popup behind the bag at second base that was caught, and with Carroll stuck in no-man’s land between first and second, he was doubled up before he could get back to first. The third came in the fifth, when Giants catcher Joey Bart struck out as shortstop Casey Schmitt tried unsuccessfully to steal second. … Fletcher narrowly missed having the 12th two-triple game in Diamondbacks franchise history in the eighth inning, when his triple was changed to a home run by replay review. The last came from Eduardo Escobar on July 22, 2019, against the Baltimore Orioles. No Diamondback has ever had a three-triple game.

After the game, Giants manager Gabe Kapler told reporters that DeSclafani left the game with pain in his left big toe. Four weeks ago, a piano bench landed on his toe while helping his son off the bench after playing piano with him. Pain-wise, it had not bothered him in-game at all until Saturday. After the Marte infield single, with the nail about to come off, the pain was too great for DeSclafani to continue.

Looking Ahead

Gallen (6–1) earned the win, while DeSclafani (3–3) took the loss. The Diamondbacks (22–18) and Giants (17–22) finish their four-game series Sunday afternoon in a Mother’s Day Matinee. In a battle of righties, Logan Webb (3–5, 3.46 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Giants against struggling Diamondbacks rookie Brandon Pfaadt (0–1, 12.10 ERA in two starts). First pitch will be at 1:10 pm Arizona Time.