Martinez slam leads rout of Giants
PHOENIX — J.D. Martinez hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks and their lineup of regulars to an 11-4 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.
Martinez continued his torrid September in which he has 15 home runs, 35 RBIs and seven doubles with a .414 batting average. He has 28 homers since the Diamondbacks acquired him from Detroit, tied with Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton for most in the majors since July 19.
The six RBIs tied a career high, and Martinez’s total of 103 RBIs on the season is a career best.
The Diamondbacks went with their everyday lineup after giving all but second baseman Brandon Drury the night off Monday, one day after they clinched home-field advantage in the NL wild-card game Oct. 4.
The hitters came out swinging right away. Martinez doubled home two runs in the first inning, then drove his grand slam out to right field during a six-run second.
He trotted back to the home dugout with his third slam of the season to chants of “J.D.! J.D.!” from the crowd.
David Peralta and A.J. Pollock also drove in runs in the inning. Seven earned runs
were charged to Giants starter Matt Moore (6-15), who couldn’t make it out of the second inning.
Arizona starter Robbie Ray had more than enough support, though he gave up Tim Federowicz’s two-run homer in the fifth. Ray (15-5) allowed three hits in five innings and won for the sixth time in his last seven starts. He struck out five.
Ketel Marte doubled and tripled for Arizona, driving in two runs in the fifth with his triple.
Pablo Sandoval and Joe Panik drove in single runs for the Giants in the seventh.
Pinch-hitter Christian Walker hit a line-drive home run in the bottom of the
seventh that barely cleared the rightfield fence, his second homer of the season.
Cain set for Saturday — Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that as of Tuesday, the final three starting pitchers of the season will be Chris Stratton, Matt Cain and Johnny Cueto, which means ace lefty Madison Bumgarner will not get another start before the season ends.
It figures to be an emotional day for Cain on Saturday at home against San Diego. The veteran right-hander hasn’t pitched since Aug. 31 and is 3-11 on the season. Yet he has been a part of three World Series championship teams in San Francisco and is a three-time AllStar over his 12-plus seasons with the team.
Saturday could very well be Cain’s last time on the mound for the Giants, who don’t seem likely to pick up his contract option for 2018.
“With what he’s done for the Giant organization, he’s been here from Day 1 with me, so I want him to make a start at home and Saturday is the best time,” Bochy said. “Matt’s been great through all this, providing leadership and of course, what he brought to us on the field. This is going to be a special day I think, for him and for all of us.”
A managerial first — With the Giants’ 9-2 win on Monday, Bochy earned his 900th victory at the helm for San Francisco. He is the first manager in major league history with 900 or more wins for two teams, after winning 951 games with San Diego.