PHOENIX (AP) — Pinch hitter Matt Duffy hit a tie-breaking single in the ninth inning for San Francisco as the Giants defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-2, on Wednesday.
Duffy’s one-out hit came on a full count against closer Addison Reed (1-6). Pablo Sandoval walked with one out, Brandon Crawford singled for his fourth hit and pinch hitter Brandon Belt walked, setting up Duffy.
Sergio Romo (6-4) pitched one inning, and Duffy batted for him. Santiago Casilla got his 17th save.
Crawford had an RBI double in the second for a 1-0 lead.
Andrew Chafin, making just his second major league start, tied it in the Arizona second with an RBI single off Madison Bumgarner. The hit came in Chafin’s first big league at-bat.
Bumgarner labored through six innings allowing at least two baserunners in the first three. Trying for his 19th win, he gave up seven hits and struck out six.
A’s blow a huge lead in the ninth
OAKLAND (AP) — Sean Doolittle allowed a three-run homer to J.P. Arencibia during a six-run ninth inning, and Oakland lost to the last-place Texas Rangers, 6-1, on Saturday.
It was the fourth blown save in 25 chances for Doolittle (1-4) this season.
The bearded closer’s meltdown on the mound negated a stellar start by Jeff Samardzija and ended Oakland’s two-year reign as AL West champions. The Los Angeles Angels clinched the division with their win and the loss by the A’s.
Oakland dropped into a tie with Kansas City for the AL’s top wild card.
Sam Fuld’s single in the fifth drove in Oakland’s only run. Robbie Ross (3-6) got the final five outs for the win.