The Arizona Diamondbacks continue their four-game series against the San Francisco Giants at 5:10 p.m. Saturday. The game can be seen on Bally Sports Arizona.
For much of Saturday night’s 7-2 win over the Giants, the Diamondbacks bats were silent. After five innings, they trailed, 1-0, with just one hit to show for their efforts.
Then the game turned on its head, in large part due to rookie outfielder Dominic Fletcher, who is quickly turning into a sensation for the Diamondbacks. After Arizona tied the game on a wild pitch, Fletcher cleared the bases with a three-run triple to right-center field. In the eight, he expanded on the lead with a two-run homer to right — his second in as many days. Fletcher is 8 for 12 with four extra-base hits in this weekend’s series.
On the mound, Gallen was shaky with command at times, walking multiple batters for just the second time this year. But while he may not have had his best stuff, he was efficient, working 7 2/3 innings and allowing two runs. Before Wilmer Flores ended his day with a double, the Diamondbacks’ ace was two strikes away from tying a career-high with eight innings pitched.
Instead, it was the second longest start of Gallen’s career. The Diamondbacks are now 22-18 and have won two in a row after losing three straight earlier this week.
—Theo Mackie
Diamondbacks offense erupts with 4 runs vs. Giants
The Diamondbacks scored four times in the sixth inning to take a 4-1 lead over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night, getting another big hit from Dominic Fletcher in the process.
Fletcher, who a night earlier collected three hits, including his first home run, snapped a 1-1 tie with a bases-clearing triple, lacing a first-pitch fastball from Giants left-hander Scott Alexander into right-center field.
The Diamondbacks started the inning with three consecutive hits off Giants right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, who to that point had been cruising. DeSclafani then abruptly departed with an apparent injury.
The Giants still led, 1-0, at that point, but Alexander uncorked a wild pitch to bring home the tying run. He was one out away from escaping without further damage but Fletcher turned in his latest big hit in his two weeks in the majors.
Through that at-bat, Fletcher improved to 17 for 38 (.447) with three doubles, a triple, a homer and 11 RBIs in 12 games.
He also made a nice play going back on a ball at the warning track in the first inning, a catch that led to an inning-ending double play.
—Nick…