Tyler Anderson’s gem leads Giants past DBacks for fifth straight

BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER

The Giants exploited shaky Arizona pitching to score four runs in the seventh inning and rode a three-hitter by Tyler Anderson to score a 5-1 win over the Diamondbacks Saturday evening at Oracle Park.

It was the first complete game of Anderson’s career, the first of the season for the San Francisco, and only the eighth in the National League this season.

The win was the Giants fifth straight after a five game losing streak and moved them within a game of third place Colorado in the NL West.

San Francisco jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen opened the game with three straight walks before the Giants converted a run on a double play ground out by Brandon Belt. After that, both starters were untouchable until Arizona got to Anderson (1-1, 3.45) for an unearned run in the seventh to tie the score following just their second hit of the game.

But with Gallen removed from the game after throwing 95 pitches thru six innings, the DBacks were betrayed by their bullpen. Matt Grace (0-1) gave up a pinch hit double to Joey Bart sandwiched by a pair of walks without recording an out before Junior Guerra walked the first two batters he faced to give San Francisco a 3-1 lead. An RBI fielders choice by Donovan Solano and a single by Belt after another pitching change would stretch the lead to 5-1.

The two teams are back at it Sunday afternoon at 1:10 PM with Trevor Cahill (0-0, 1.59) going for the sweep against Arizona’s Luke Weaver (1-3, 9.16).