Goldschmidt, Greinke lead D-Backs past Giants
PHOENIX — Arizona manager Torey Lovullo calls Paul Goldschmidt “a severe MVP candidate.”
Goldschmidt added more evidence to back up that assessment Friday night.
The quiet slugger hit a three-run home run and the Diamondbacks held on to beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Friday night to give Zack Greinke his 15th victory of the season, tied with his ex-teammate Clayton Kershaw for most in the majors.
With his 30th home run and 101st RBI, Goldschmidt became the first Arizona player in franchise history to have three seasons with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs.
As always, Goldschmidt downplayed the numbers.
“My only focus is not on any numbers or individual stuff,” Goldschmidt said. “We’re here in the playoff race. I’m just trying to win the game, find a way to help us win tonight and kind of do the same thing tomorrow.”
Greinke (15-6) allowed three runs, two earned, and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out four with no walks. He threw a seasonhigh 111 pitches. The Diamondbacks’ ace improved to 12-1 at home this season and helped Arizona pull 1 1/2 games ahead of Colorado for the NL’s top wildcard spot.
Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth for his 31st save in 36 tries.
Brandon Crawford doubled twice, singled and scored twice for San Francisco.
The Diamondbacks sent eight batters to the plate against Ty Blach (8-10) in the third and scored four runs. David Peralta and Chris Iannetta singled with one out and the runners advanced to second on third on center fielder Denard Span’s fielding error. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval couldn’t bare-hand A.J. Pollock’s slow grounder, allowing Peralta to score.
That brought up Goldschmidt, who lined Blach’s 2-1 change-up into the left field seats and Arizona led 4-1.
“He got a good pitch there and took advantage of it,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He kind of muscled it out. That is why he’s having the type of year he is. Not just against us, everybody. You try not to have guys on base when he is up there.”
The Giants went up 1-0 in the second. After consecutive one-out singles by Crawford and Pablo Sandoval, Crawford was caught trying to steal third.