Wednesday, May 29, 2002
Giants 1, Diamondbacks 0, 10 innings
The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — Benito Santiago had only one word to describe his 10th inning, game-winning single against the rival Arizona Diamondbacks. “Beautiful,” he said with a smile.
Santiago's RBI single extended his hitting streak to 13 games and gave the San Francisco Giants a 1-0 victory over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.
After being held to one hit by Miguel Batista through nine innings, the Giants broke through against the Arizona bullpen in the 10th.
Mike Myers (3-2) walked Barry Bonds to lead off the inning and Jeff Kent hit a bouncing single to left off Bret Prinz to put runners on first and third. Santiago followed with another single to left as the Giants won the second of a four-game set against the defending World Series champions.
“What a night! I'd like to see you guys every night, eh?” Santiago said to the crowd of reporters waiting for him.
Giants closer Robb Nen (3-0) pitched the top of the 10th for the win, and the Giants moved within a half game of Arizona in the NL West.
Batista and Jason Schmidt matched zeros for nine innings, with Schmidt allowing only three hits.
“It was as good as you're going to get,” Giants manager Dusty Baker said. “Both pitchers were awesome out there.”
Bonds went 0-for-2 with two walks, a day after hitting his 585th career home run against the Diamondbacks. Bonds needs one more home run to match Frank Robinson for fourth place on the career list.
Bonds did make a spectacular defensive play in the ninth inning when he made a running leap at the warning track to snag Luis Gonzalez's fly to deep left.
Batista left his previous start — last Wednesday against the Giants — after three innings because of a cut on his right thumb and a blister on his forefinger. The Diamondbacks went on to win 12-5.
Schmidt started against the Diamondbacks in the same game, allowing three runs and five hits over just three innings.
After opening the season on the disabled list with a groin strain, Schmidt had worked more than five innings in just one of his previous six starts.
This time, both starters lasted considerably longer.
Batista allowed just one hit, a single to Kent in the fourth after Bonds walked with two outs. But Santiago grounded out to end it.
Batista also got the lone Arizona hit in the first six innings.
“I get paid to pitch. I did that,” Batista said. “I'm not disappointed at all. I can't get mad at my teammates. They did everything they could.”
The Diamondbacks had their best chance in the seventh. David Dellucci and Gonzalez each singled before advancing on Junior Spivey's sacrifice bunt.
Schmidt walked Steve Finley to load the bases for Mark Grace, who popped up to shallow center. Schmidt then struck out Rod Barajas to end it, earning an enthusiastic standing ovation from the crowd at Pacific Bell Park.
“You could tell early that both of these guys were on top of their game,” Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenley said about the starters.
The Diamondbacks have not homered in four straight games, their longest drought of the season. Arizona and San Francisco are tied for the NL lead with 58 homers each.
The Giants are 4-0 this season in extra-inning games.
Notes: Earlier Tuesday, the Diamondbacks recalled Prinz from Triple-A Tucson and designated RHP Jose Parra for assignment. Prinz appeared in 11 games with the Diamondbacks earlier this season, going 0-1 with an 8.53 ERA. ... The Diamondbacks have just 24 errors, the fewest in the majors. They have just four errors in 15 games. ... On May 28, 1957, the Giants and Dodgers received unanimous approval from the other National League teams to move from New York to the West Coast. ... Santiago was back in the fifth place in the batting order after hitting three doubles and driving in four runs Monday.
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Giants 1, Diamondbacks 0, 10 innings 
