SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco’s new-look lineup is in dire need of some timely hitting.
The Giants, who began the season as an NL West favorite, are searching for answers after being swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in a four-game series that ended with a 6-2 defeat Thursday.
San Francisco lost a fifth straight game and eighth in nine. The Giants are 3 for 35 with runners in scoring position during the skid, missing key chances in the third after Shelby Miller walked four straight batters.
“It killed us. That’s what we’re missing, a timely hit,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “You always look like this when you don’t get those hits. We need someone to inject some life in us. They were trying to give us the game there. We probably get shutout if we didn’t get those walks. We had a great chance there and we couldn’t take advantage.”
Yasmani Tomas hit a go-ahead home run in the fourth and Paul Goldschmidt drove in two runs in Arizona’s fifth straight win and first four-game sweep ever in the Giants’ 17th-year ballpark and fifth of three or more games.
“We’re not worried. I think our lineup is composed of too many good hitters who understand what they are doing at the plate for us to stay down this long,” third baseman Matt Duffy said. “We didn’t take full advantage of the opportunities that were presented.”
Tyler Wagner (1-0) allowed two hits in five relief innings of Miller for his first major league win.
The benches cleared and both teams were warned in the eighth after Josh Osich hit Arizona’s David Peralta with a pitch for the second straight day. Peralta walked toward the mound and offered Osich a few words, but there were no ejections.
Peralta said he didn’t think Osich was trying to hit him but was more annoyed it happened again.
“That’s my thought. He showed me yesterday like he can’t even throw the pitch inside because he ended up hitting me twice,” Peralta said. “The first pitch he hit me was at my face. I got lucky that I threw my arm in. Today he did the same thing and got me on my elbow. That’s why I said something, like: ‘Hey, what’s going on? You’re going to hurt somebody.’ He’s not like throwing 88, he’s throwing 98.”
Osich said afterward: “I can see why he can be mad. I can see what it looks like because it’s the second day in a row. It’s part of baseball. I missed my spot.”
Jake Lamb went 7 for 15 with a homer, triple and four doubles during the series with two more hits in the finale against Johnny Cueto (3-1), who was tagged for his first loss since joining the Giants on a $130 million, six-year contract.
Lamb’s 16 total bases were the second most in a single series at AT&T Park behind Matt Williams’ 17 during a five-game set from Sept. 21-25, 2000.
Jean Segura added a two-run triple in the ninth as Arizona won for the eighth time in the last 10 against San Francisco and 12th in 14 at AT&T Park, including six shutouts.
“It’s not easy to sweep anybody four games at the major league level, especially a team like that in this ballpark,” D-backs manager Chip Hale said. “I’m very proud of our guys.”
HONORING PRINCE
Before the game, Giants pitcher Jake Peavy played Prince hits in the clubhouse in tribute to the star pop singer, who died Thursday at age 57. Peavy, a musician himself and aficionado, chose “Nothing Compares To U” and “Little Red Corvette” and said, “It’s emotional.” ‘’Raspberry Beret” played over the ballpark sound system shortly before first pitch.
More Prince songs played between innings all afternoon.
BONDS RETURNS
Home run king Barry Bonds returns to the ballpark he helped get built in a different uniform for the first time since leaving the Giants following his record-setting 2007 season.
Bonds visits the Bay Area as the Miami Marlins’ hitting coach for a weekend series against the Giants starting Friday night.
The slugger and seven-time NL MVP posted on Twitter last week: “Truly blessed to inspire people from all over! Miami has welcomed me with open arms.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: C Buster Posey had the day off following a night game, with Trevor Brown drawing the assignment of catching Cueto. Posey had already played a lot this week. “I don’t want to wear him down in April,” manager Bruce Bochy said. ... Former Giants RHP Tim Lincecum, still throwing as part of his rehab from left hip surgery, is yet to schedule his showcase pitching session for scouts and team executives, his agency said.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (1-1) makes his home debut, pitching the series opener against the Marlins.
