Diamondbacks 8, Giants 6: Taijuan solid in Arizona debut

Record: 2-1. Pace: 108-54. Change on 2016:

The roof was open at Chase Field as the Arizona Diamondbacks hosted the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday evening. Under picturesque Arizona skies Diamondbacks starting pitcher Taijuan Walker was solid throughout the contest, surrendering four earned runs in six innings in an 8-6 Arizona victory. Walker struck out seven and walked one in his Diamondbacks debut.

Arizona fell behind 4-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning and were being handcuffed by Giants starter Matt Moore. Last season Moore was 2-1 against Arizona and on Wednesday he seemed that he would adding his third career victory until the Diamondbacks bats awoke in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Arizona's Chris Owing doubled. Paul Goldschmidt walked and both runners scored on a Brandon Belt error to make it a 4-3 contest. Yasmany Tomas doubled in Jake Lamb and the score was tied at four after five-innings.

The Diamondbacks added two more runs in the sixth inning on run scoring hits by Jeremy Hazelbaker and A.J. Pollock.

In the seventh inning Arizona added two more insurance runs. Brandon Drury singled in Chris Hermann and then Drury scored on a Nick Ahmed double. After seven innings the Diamondbacks were in control 8-4.

The Giants made it interesting by scoring a pair of runs in the eighth inning, before Tom Wilhelmsen stranded the tying run in scoring position. Fernando Rodney came in the top of the ninth, and shut the door on any possible San Francisco comeback, striking out two as he picked up his first save as a Diamondback.

With the win the Diamondbacks improve to 2-1, early in this 2017 campaign, and they are in a first place tie in the National League West with Colorado and Los Angeles. The Diamondbacks and Giants finish their four-game series tomorrow at Chase Field. Game time is 6:40 p.m. (Arizona).

[Click for details, at fangraphs.com]
Death Race 2000: Jeremy Hazelbaker, +20.5%
The Man With X-Ray Eyes: Lamb, +16.1%, Owings, +14.6%; Tomas, +13.4%
Attack of the Crab Monsters: J.J. Hoover, -8.3%

Almost more people in the GDT than were at Chase Field (14,675). Thanks to BenSharp, Diamondhacks, FormerlyChelsea75, GuruB, Hazzard21, I suppose I'm a Pessimist, Imstillhungry95, James Attwood, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, JoelPre, JoeyLewis, Keegan Thompson, Michael McDermott, MikeDavisAZ, Oldenschoole, Sprankton, Xerostomia, Zavada's Moustache, aldma, asteroid, blue_bulldog, ford.williams.10, gallo del cielo, gametime111, hotclaws, kamshing, lg451, makattack71, onedotfive, pcmonk, since_98, soco, thunderpumpkin87 and  tommyt_16 for their participation.

Several credible candidates ended up glowing Sedona Red, but comment of the thread to FormerlyChelsea75:

I'd laugh except I'm too busy crying. This series, the D-backs bullpen has thrown 12 innings and allowed nine earned runs (6.75 ERA), while the Giants relievers have thrown 8.1 innings and allowed five earned runs (5.40 ERA). But on this evening, ours proved just good enough.