Posey homers to back Hudson vs. D-backs
SAN FRANCISCO -- Buster Posey crushed his 19th home run of the season, a three-run shot in the sixth inning, to propel the San Francisco Giants to a 5-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Park.
After Alejandro De Aza doubled to score Angel Pagan, Posey followed two batters later by depositing a hanging changeup from D-backs reliever Randall Delgado into the left-center-field seats. Posey increased his RBI total to 93 for the season, putting him 10 short of his career high set in 2012.
"After the sixth, I came in and sat down and Buster is sitting beside me and I kind of nonchalantly said, 'C'mon boys, let's get four,'" said Tim Hudson, who earned his eighth win of the year. "I guess sometimes you've just got to ask for it."
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The D-backs were unable to muster any offense to back starter Jeremy Hellickson, who allowed two runs in five-plus innings. Hellickson gave up three hits and two walks while striking out five in the outing.
Video: ARI@SF: Hellickson whiffs Tomlinson to end the 2nd
"I'm definitely going to walk away a little disappointed," Hellickson said. "That sixth inning, the two base hits I executed my pitch. But looking back, maybe they weren't the right pitch in that situation."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Hudson at home: In what could be Hudson's final career start at AT&T Park if he and the Giants decide to make his next start in Oakland his last, the 40-year-old pitched beautifully. The only real trouble he faced was in the fourth inning when he struck out Welington Castillo looking to strand runners on first and third. Other than that, Hudson was brilliant, shutting out the D-backs over six innings. He allowed four hits and three walks while striking out three.
Video: ARI@SF: Hudson tosses six scoreless innings in win
"What a great job," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I asked him just a couple minutes ago if he's changing his mind [about retiring]. He's throwing the ball so well." More >
Streaks end: D-backs pitchers' scoreless-innings streak at AT&T Park came to an end at 35 when the Giants scored four in the sixth inning. The D-backs' six-game winning streak at AT&T Park also came to an end. It was the longest winning streak in San Francisco in franchise history.
Video: ARI@SF: De Aza doubles in the first run of the game
Parker stays hot: The Giants' Jarrett Parker received his fourth start of the season Sunday, after going 3-for-5 as a pinch-hitter since being recalled Sept. 1. Parker really could have been 4-for-5 if not for A.J. Pollock robbing him of a homer Friday night. But the rookie delivered an RBI single in the eighth inning Sunday to salvage a 1-for-4 day.
Video: ARI@SF: Parker smacks an RBI single to extend lead
Eliminated: The loss officially eliminated the D-backs from the postseason, but it was really a formality. After trailing the first-place Dodgers by just five games on Aug. 23 after sweeping a four-game series from the Reds, the D-backs have struggled.
"We blew our shot when we came home from the Cincinnati series," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "We had a nice little run going and we sort of lost that mojo after that. So we knew that it was going to be a long shot at this point. The other teams have played really well -- the Dodgers and all the Wild Card teams. So we had our shot in early September or late August there and we just didn't hold our end of the bargain up."
WHAT'S NEXT
D-backs: The D-backs open a four-game series with the Dodgers on Monday night with Jhoulys Chacin on the mound. The right-hander has pitched himself into the rotation picture for 2016 with three impressive starts after being signed to a Minor League deal this summer.
Giants: Following an off-day Monday, San Francisco travels to San Diego to open up a three-game series Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. PT. Chris Heston takes the mound for the Giants. The right-hander is looking for his first win since July 27.
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