Giants overcome D-backs' rally to win in 11th

July 3rd, 2016

PHOENIX -- It took the Giants a little while longer than usual Sunday afternoon, but for the sixth time in seven tries this year they walked away from a game at Chase Field with a victory when Ramiro Pena's pinch-hit RBI double in the 11th inning off Enrique Burgos helped them beat the D-backs, 5-4.
"I was ready for it," said Pena, who has been slowed by a sprained left ankle. "They told me I could enter as a pinch-hitter, but i just didn't know when. I got my chance and here we are."
The Giants had built a 4-1 lead thanks to a two-run single by Mac Williamson in the third and a two-run double by Brandon Belt in the fourth. Both of the hits came off Arizona starter Robbie Ray, who lasted six innings.
"The guys found a way to get it done," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Pena was huge, obviously. It was a great win."

The D-backs chipped away at the lead in the sixth when Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo homer, and they tied it in the eighth when first baseman Buster Posey's error allowed Goldschmidt to reach and Jake Lamb followed with a home run to right off Cory Gearrin.
"It was a good battle," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "Obviously when you tie it at home, you feel like you have a good chance to win it. Just wasn't meant to be today I guess."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Belt doubles up: Belt was originally scheduled to be off Sunday, but was inserted into the lineup when Gregor Blanco was scratched from the lineup because of left knee soreness.
All Belt did was walk in his first at-bat, hit a single in his second at-bat and drive in two runs with his National League-leading 26th double of the season in the fourth inning to extend the Giants' lead to 4-1. More »

One, two ..: Ray's struggles to close out innings cost him big time. In the third, Ray allowed Williamson's two-out single and then one inning later with two outs he gave up Belt's two-run double.
"They squared a lot of balls up early and even the outs were hard," Hale said. "I thought [Ray] made a good adjustment and stuck with it and didn't give up and battled."

Leadoff walks will bite you: Burgos will no doubt wind up regretting the free pass he allowed to Jarrett Parker to start the 11th. Burgos was one pitch away from putting Parker away, but the rookie battled and fouled off a pair of pitches before drawing a walk. That would prove to be Burgos' downfall when Pena followed with the game-winning double.
"Those hurt," Hale said. "We talk about those things, about leadoff walks and the percentage where they score and you really have to bear down and not let that leadoff guy on. He's not trying to walk him there. Parker did a good job working it."
Mac Attack: Williamson launched a 460-foot solo home run, the longest home run hit by a Giant this season, on Saturday. A day later, his first hit didn't go as far, but was just as effective.
Williamson's two-run single in the third inning gave the Giants a 2-1 lead.

QUOTABLE
"It's important in your division. That's what you try to do, take series. We lost a tough one yesterday and now you are fighting to take the series. Both teams fought hard today, and we found a way to win and that's a good thing." -- Bochy on winning seven consecutive series against teams in the NL West
WHAT'S NEXT
Giants:Jake Peavy will look to bounce back from an abbreviated start Monday in the first game of the series against the Rockies at 1:05 p.m. PT at AT&T Park. The veteran was charged with seven runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings against the A's on Wednesday. He also gave up two home runs.
D-backs:Archie Bradley will start Monday night's series opener against the Padres at Chase Field. The game starts at 6:10 p.m. MST and features a postgame fireworks show. Bradley has a 1-0 record and a 2.12 ERA over his last three starts.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.