SAN FRANCISCO — The Arizona Diamondbacks rode the strong right arm of starter Rubby De La Rosa to their first road sweep of the Giants in nearly seven seasons with a 4-0 win on Sunday.
De La Rosa (5-3) established career highs for wins and strikeouts (78). The 26-year-old right-hander scattered six hits over eight innings but exited after surrendering a double to second baseman Joe Panik and a single to first baseman Brandon Belt to start the ninth.
Right-hander Daniel Hudson struck out shortstop Brandon Crawford, walked third baseman Casey McGehee and induced pinch-hitter Buster Posey to hit into a double play to cap Arizona’s first sweep in San Francisco since July 25-27, 2007.
San Francisco hit into five doubles plays in all while losing for the eighth straight time at AT&T Park. The Giants have been outscored by a 40-16 margin during the home losing stretch.
Right-hander Chris Heston (6-5) followed up Tuesday’s no-hitter against the New York Mets by allowing three runs (two earned) and seven hits in seven innings.
Arizona took a 1-0 lead when third baseman Jake Lamb doubled and scored on a throwing error by Crawford in the second. The Diamondbacks added two runs in the fifth on a two-run double by second baseman Chris Owings and scored their final run on a sacrifice fly by center fielder A.J. Pollock.
NOTES: C Buster Posey and CF Angel Pagan were not in the starting lineup Sunday as Giants manager Bruce Bochy shuffled the deck hoping to find offense from a team that logged a .135 batting average over three games. Rookie RF Jarrett Parker got a second straight start, batting seventh, while OF Justin Maxwell moved to center in place of Pagan and C Andrew Susac played in place of Posey. Productive SS Brandon Crawford hit in the cleanup spot, and 3B Casey McGehee batted fifth and started in place of rookie Matt Duffy. … Four of Arizona’s five current starting pitchers were acquired by trade in the offseason, including Sunday’s starter Rubby De La Rosa. … The Giants next host the Seattle Mariners, whom they have not faced since 2012. … The Diamondbacks visit Anaheim to play the Angels for the eighth time in club history. … San Francisco entered Sunday’s game as the only team in the majors without a double-digit home run hitter.