SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Barry Zito outpitched Trevor Cahill in a matchup of former Oakland Athletics All-Stars, Brandon Belt hit an RBI triple and the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 on Monday.
Gregor Blanco doubled twice and drove in a run for his second two-double game in four days and made a pretty game-ending catch on the warning track in right with two runners aboard. Blanco also scored on a double-steal to get things started in San Francisco's three-run first.
Majors hits leader Melky Cabrera followed up his four-hit day in Sunday's 3-2 win at Miami with a 1-for-3 outing to push his total to 74 hits — on an afternoon when home run king Barry Bonds was among the sellout crowd of 42,295 and stopped by the clubhouse for a visit before the game.
Cabrera singled in the sixth to give him 47 hits for May, tying him with Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda for third-most hits in a month in San Francisco history. If he gets to 49, he would match Hall of Famer Willie Mays for second most.
Zito (4-2) allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings to win for the third time in four starts, bouncing back from an 8-5 loss at Milwaukee in which he was tagged for eight runs and five hits in three innings.
Cahill (2-5), traded to the defending division champion D-backs in December by the rebuilding A's, extended his winless stretch to five starts — and is 0-3 during that span since winning at Washington on May 1. The right-hander struck out five and walked two, while allowing four runs and eight hits in six innings.
Clay Hensley struck out two in the eighth and Santiago Casilla finished for his 13th save in 14 chances after surrendering a pair of singles. The Giants held on while starting a stretch with 13 of 16 games at home.
Cahill singled in the third for his second career hit and first since 2009 in his rookie season in Oakland. He snapped an 0-for-26 stretch.
Pinch-hitter John McDonald hit a solo home run in the eighth for Arizona as the last batter against Zito, who made his way from the mound to the dugout to a warm ovation for the second straight home start.
It was McDonald's first career pinch-hit homer.
Justin Upton hit an RBI double for the Diamondbacks, but they missed other key opportunities, including stranding runners on second and third in the third inning. Arizona was looking to build some momentum after it took two of three from Milwaukee at home to end a string of six straight series losses at Chase Field.
Marine Cpl. Nick Kimmel, a triple amputee who served in Afghanistan and was injured by a roadside bomb, hopped out of his wheelchair on a new pair of legs to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. And it was a fitting day for Zito to pitch considering his Strikeouts for Troops foundation has provided assistance to service members and their families and injured military members.
"With Zito going, it puts more meaning on this game," manager Bruce Bochy said.
Also Monday, the USS Nimitz air craft carrier could be seen beyond the right-field facade.
NOTES: Injured Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval, working back from a broken hamate bone in his left hand that required surgery, was scheduled to be examined by a team doctor and could be back playing for the Giants in a couple of weeks following a rehab assignment in the minors. ... Arizona manager Kirk Gibson celebrated his 55th birthday. ... The Diamondbacks made their first trip to AT&T Park of the year after the division rivals already played six games in Arizona. They won't meet again in San Francisco's waterfront ballpark until six games here in September. ... The Giants' Emmanuel Burriss singled in the second for his first hit of the year vs. Arizona after beginning 0 for 11. ... A moment of silence was held before the national anthem on Memorial Day for all of the fallen U.S. troops. ... Upton, 0 for 4 Sunday vs. the Brewers, has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games. ... RHP Ryan Vogelsong (3-2) pitches Tuesday night against LHP Joe Saunders (3-3).
