SAN FRANCISCO -- Sitting in the visitors’ dugout before Thursday night's series opener with the Giants, Arizona GM Mike Hazen was asked about his team's admirable penchant for late-inning comeback wins.
While a great characteristic, Hazen pointed out that it's not really a long-term way to have success.
"It's a testament to these kids not ever giving up, and the bullpen being good, and so I appreciate that," Hazen said. "I think for us to sustain winning, we need to start doing it in other ways, too, which is putting runs on the board early and start playing with leads."
While Friday night's 10-6 win over the Giants at Oracle Park technically counts as the Diamondbacks’ 41st comeback win this season, most in the Majors, they did just what Hazen said -- scored runs early, kept piling them on -- and that helped them even this series at a game apiece with a day-night doubleheader set for Saturday.
The win, combined with the Padres’ loss to the Rays, pulled the Diamondbacks to within half a game of San Diego for the final NL Wild Card spot.
The Diamondbacks got a leadoff homer from Lars Nootbaar on the first pitch of the game, and even though the Giants scored single runs in the first and second to take a 2-1 lead, it didn't last long, as Arizona scored five in the third.
The Diamondbacks added a three-run sixth, and got another in the seventh for plenty of breathing room.