PHOENIX — Center fielder A.J. Pollock tied a career high with three hits and scored twice, once on a controversial play at the plate, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 Tuesday to break a three-game losing streak.
Arizona shortstop Chris Owings singled with one out in the eighth inning, stole second, then scored when Pollock’s double one-hopped over the fence in left-center to tie it at 4. Pollock scored on Gerardo Parra’s sacrifice fly off right-handed reliever Juan Gutierrez (0-1) for a 5-4 lead.
In the fourth inning, Pollock singled and scored on a short passed ball, trimming the D-backs’ deficit to 4-3. Video replays appeared to show he was out, but San Francisco could not challenge because manager Bruce Bochy used his challenge two plays earlier, when Pollock was nearly picked off first base.
Diamondbacks left-hander Wade Miley (1-1) gave up four runs in the first inning, three on first baseman Brandon Belt’s second home run of the season, but he gave up only two more hits in his seven-inning outing. He retired 15 straight after Belt’s homer.
Closer Addison Reed got his first save of the season, pitching around a popup down the left field line that Owings played into a double when he overran it.
Belt had two hits, making him 5-for-8 through the first two games of the four-game series. The Giants won their season opener 9-8 Monday at Chase Field.
Giants right-hander Matt Cain gave up seven hits two earned runs in five innings.
San Francisco catcher Buster Posey singled in the first run of a four-run first inning before Belt’s two-out homer into the pool area in right-center field made it 4-0 lead six batters into the game.
Belt has hit six of his last 19 home runs against the Diamondbacks, and he homered for the second day in a row.
Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt extended his hitting streak to 23 games with a run-scoring double in the bottom of the first inning, and third baseman Martin Prado followed with an RBI single to make it 4-2.
NOTES: Diamondbacks RHP David Hernandez said on his Twitter feed that his Tommy John surgery by Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday “went great.” He and LHP Patrick Corbin, who had a similar surgery from Andrews the week before, will miss the 2014 season. … C Buster Posey is scheduled for a day off on Thursday afternoon, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. RHP Tim Lincecum is to make his first start of the season debut. Lincecum took a line drive off the knee in his last exhibition start, but his bullpen session Tuesday went well, Bochy said. … The Diamondbacks flip-flopped CF A.J. Pollock and RF Gerardo Parra in the lineup when they faced a right-handed starter for the first time this season. Lefty-hitting Parra was in the leadoff spot, and Pollock was dropped to No. 8. Pollock was 0-for-13 in his three games hitting leadoff against lefties.