D-backs can't afford another slip-up against the Giants

The San Francisco Giants are playing great baseball at a time when it doesn't matter to them.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks are trying to make sure that two consecutive setbacks do not turn into a sustained slump that could jeopardize their playoff ambitions.

The Giants, who have a 6-1 record on a nine-game road trip, will look to continue their winning streak when they face the Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Tuesday night in the middle game of a three-game series.

San Francisco (78-79) has outscored its opponents 37-12 on the road, including a 6-3 win Monday in the series opener. A team that has underperformed this season is suddenly on top form.

Arizona (87-70) dropped to third place in the National League wild-card race with Monday's loss. The Diamondbacks are a half-game behind the New York Mets but 1 1/2 games ahead of the last-place Atlanta Braves. Making matters worse, the Diamondbacks host the red-hot San Diego Padres for three games in the final series of the regular season.

Arizona won four games in a row before blowing an 8-0 lead against Milwaukee on Sunday. The Brewers fought back for a 10-9 victory.

“I don't think there's any pressure,” Diamondbacks center fielder Jake McCarthy said after Monday's loss. “We've been going full throttle all season, so we're attributing it to baseball. We'll bounce back (on Tuesday).”

Giants third baseman Matt Chapman hit a two-run inside-the-park home run and an RBI triple on Monday, becoming the franchise's first player to hit an inside-the-parker and a triple in the same game since Hall of Famer Monte Irvin did both for the New York Giants in 1953.

In the third inning, Chapman hit a deep drive to left-center field that bounced off the wall back into deep center field. McCarthy tried to field the ball, so left fielder Pavin Smith had to retrieve the ball while Chapman rounded the bases and hit San Francisco's first inside-the-park home run since Denard Span hit one in 2017.

“It was tiring. It was a lot of fun,” Chapman said. “…When I saw he missed the ball, I tuned in and really hoped Matty (third base coach Matt Williams) would wave to me, and I was ecstatic. That was a lot of fun.”

Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte (ankle, back) was only able to play as a pinch hitter in the opening game. He struck out in the eighth inning.

Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno (adductors) did not play but is expected to return Tuesday.

Logan Webb (12-10, 3.58 ERA) of San Francisco will face Brandon Pfaadt (10-9, 4.66) of Arizona in a right-handed duel on Tuesday.

Webb had eight strikeouts in five innings of a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, allowing three runs and four hits.

Webb dominated the Diamondbacks on April 18, allowing just two hits in seven innings in a 5-0 win.

Webb, 27, is 6-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 11 career starts against Arizona. Corbin Carroll (5-for-14), McCarthy (6-for-18), Moreno (4-for-11) and Christian Walker (6-for-19) have pitched well against Webb, while Marte (4-for-22, one home run), Geraldo Perdomo (2-for-16) and Randal Grichuk (1-for-12) have struggled against him.

Pfaadt is coming off a great outing in which he recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts in a win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, allowing one run and two hits and not allowing a walk in seven innings.

The 25-year-old has struck out ten or more batters in three of his last seven starts and four times this season.

Pfaadt is 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two career starts against San Francisco, both last season.

Michael Conforto (2-for-5) and LaMonte Wade Jr. (1-for-6) both hit home runs against Pfaadt.

–Field level media