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 Duffy hit a two-run, tiebreaking single in the top of the ninth
inning to lift the Giants to a 4-2 victory over the Arizona
Diamondbacks on Wednesday at Chase Field, pulling San Francisco
within two games of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League
West race.
"It feels good. It gives you confidence," said Duffy, who spent most
of the season at Double-A Richmond. "When he shows confidence in
you, it gives you confidence in yourself. I think that's helped me
relax, knowing I'm not the only one who has confidence in myself."
Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval walked to open the ninth inning
off right-hander Addison Reed (1-6) and took second on a one-out
single by shortstop Brandon Crawford, who tied a career high with
four hits.
Pinch hitter Brandon Belt walked to load the bases and bring up
Duffy, who lined a single to center on a 3-2 slider.
"He's shown great poise up there," Bochy said. "He has good
discipline. He has the composure you like as a pinch hitter. He has
a simple swing, a short swing. He's not a guy who tries to get big
up there."
Duffy, who has 12 hits this season, is 4-for-10 as a pinch hitter.
"Typically I try to be aggressive," Duffy said of his pinch-hit
approach. "You might get one pitch to hit."
Belt, who also contributed off the bench, made his first appearance
since Aug. 6 after missing time due to concussion symptoms.
Crawford hit a double and three singles and scored twice as the
Giants (84-68) won for the sixth time in nine games.
Catcher Tuffy Gosewisch had a career-high three hits, and center
fielder A.J. Pollock had two hits and scored a run for the
Diamondbacks (62-90), who won three of their previous four.
Sergio Romo (6-4) pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Santiago
Casilla struck out two in the ninth for his 17th save.
The Giants have a three-game weekend series against the Padres in
San Diego before playing the division-leading Dodgers (86-66) in a
three-game series that starts Monday in Los Angeles.
As the Giants' game started in Arizona, Colorado scored eight runs
in the first inning against the Dodgers en route to a 16-2 victory.
Reed pitched or heated up in the bullpen five of the past six games,
Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said.
"He just didn't have it today," Gibson said.
San Francisco left-hander Madison Bumgarner gave up two runs in six
innings but did not get a decision. Bumgarner, who is attempting to
become the Giants' first 20-game winner since John Burkett (22) and
Bill Swift (21) in 1993, has 18 victories with two scheduled starts
remaining.
"That was big for us today to pull this one out," Bumgarner said.
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Arizona left-hander Andrew Chafin, making his second major league
start, gave up three hits and two runs in six innings. He walked
four and struck out two.
"I have to work on my command a little bit," Chafin said. "I have to
cut down on those walks. It's all about fine-tuning mechanics."
Left fielder Ender Inciarte also has two hits for Arizona.
Giants catcher Andrew Susac walked with two outs in the second
inning and scored on Crawford's double to left-center field.
Crawford has a career-high 65 RBIs.
Chafin tied it in the last of the second with his first major league
hit, a single to right field that drove in right fielder Cody Ross
from third. Ross walked and went to third on a single by Gosewisch.
Crawford singled and scored to make it 2-1 in the fifth inning. He
took second on a wild pitch and scored after two sacrifice bunts,
the second by left fielder Gregor Blanco.
Pollock tripled with one out in the fifth inning and scored while
Susac threw out first baseman Mark Trumbo after a strikeout in the
dirt to make it 2-2.
NOTES: San Francisco CF Angel Pagan underwent an MRI exam on his
lower back Wednesday morning. "Basically, he's inflamed that nerve
again, and we have to get it calmed down," manager Bruce Bochy said.
"We'll take a look at the MRI and see where we're at." Pagan, who
missed the Arizona series with the injury, has played only 95 games
this season because of back and wrist injuries. ... Giants OF Mike
Morse (strained oblique) missed his 15th consecutive game since
getting hurt during batting practice Sept. 1. ... Arizona stacked
its lineup with right-handed hitters against Giants LHP Madison
Bumgarner, with C Tuffy Gosewisch and SS Nick Ahmed starting in
place of C Miguel Montero and SS Didi Gregorius, both left-handed
hitters.
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