Posey, Sanchez spur offense against D-backs

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- An RBI single by Buster Posey and Hector Sanchez's two-run single highlighted a four-run, fifth-inning uprising Sunday that lifted the San Francisco Giants to a 5-3 Cactus League triumph over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Arizona starter Wade Miley left the game after four innings with a 2-1 lead. That represented unusual durability for this juncture of the spring, but it was necessary because Miley is expected to pitch one of the D-backs' pair of regular-season games March 22-23 against the Dodgers in Australia. Pablo Sandoval's first-inning bloop single drove in Posey to account for San Francisco's lone run off Miley.

The D-backs tied the game in the fifth on Miguel Montero's RBI single and then went ahead on Gerardo Parra's sacrifice fly. The Giants then broke through against reliever Brad Ziegler in the bottom of the inning, which began with singles by Juan Perez and Angel Pagan. Mark Minicozzi grounded into a forceout before Posey's second hit brought home Pagan. After Hunter Pence's groundout scored Minicozzi, Sandoval walked to set up Sanchez's two-run single to right.

In his first competitive action for the Giants, starter Tim Hudson worked two hitless innings and struck out a batter. The right-hander awkwardly covered first base -- the same play on which he fractured his right ankle last July 24 -- on Eric Chavez's second-inning grounder that was wide of the bag. Hudson let first baseman Brandon Belt's catchable throw go by. But Chavez was erased on an inning-ending double-play grounder, which prompted Hudson to cover first properly.

Up next: Monday will begin with a 10 a.m. MT "B" game against the Cubs in Mesa. The Giants need to provide innings for their pitchers, especially younger ones such as Kyle Crick, the top prospect who's expected to appear in the morning contest. In the regularly scheduled game at Scottsdale, Tim Lincecum will make his Cactus League debut against the Padres and fellow right-hander Josh Johnson. Lincecum will attempt to break his pattern of consistently subpar spring performances.