D-backs lament lack of extra-base hits

SAN FRANCISCO -- Until Friday, the D-backs owned the Majors' longest streak of consecutive games with an extra-base hit, with 79. The Giants ended that trend Friday, and Arizona mustered just one extra-base hit in Saturday's 4-3 loss.

Although Paul Goldschmidt's struggles this series -- he entered Sunday 1-for-9 with no RBIs -- have certainly played a large factor in the team's overall scuffles, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson is hoping for more consistent production from the rest of the lineup.

"He's done his job. He's done his fair share," Gibson said. "You're not always going to get hits. The other night he hit one right on the button to the shortstop [with the bases loaded]. Obviously when he's driving it in the gaps, that's going to help anybody, but we got one extra-base hit in two games. We're just not doing it as a team."

Gibson pointed to the club's 2-for-13 mark with runners in scoring position in the two losses as the source of the team's offensive woes.

"I think you always remain optimistic about it," he said. "You want to come out of the break better than we did. It's part of the deal.

"We just haven't put things together. We've put guys in scoring position the first two games and haven't gotten them in. ... Just once you hope to get one in the gap."

For the D-backs, consecutive losses to the Giants represented another unsuccessful start to the second half. On Sunday, they attempted to avoid their third consecutive sweep when beginning the second half on the road. They were swept at Wrigley Field in 2012 and Petco Park in 2010.

"I'm not sure I've got the answer," Gibson said. "We haven't swung the bats good coming out of the break at all. We've got to do better than that. We've scored three runs in two games."