Giants finally get relief in 4-2 win over Diamondbacks

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) With setup man Sergio Romo back in his normal role of pitching the eighth inning, the Giants certainly feel a lot better about their

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) With setup man Sergio Romo back in his normal role of pitching the eighth inning, the Giants certainly feel a lot better about their bullpen.

Going into the All-Star break with at least a share of the best record in baseball doesn't hurt either.

On a day when starter Jake Peavy failed to make it out of the fifth inning, San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy used a steady stream of relievers to shut down Arizona and preserve the Giants 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday.

''I think overall they've done a good job. Today we needed them,'' Bochy said of his bullpen. ''The line just did a great job there. The `pen helped win that game for us.''

The Giants' bullpen, which began the day tied with Cincinnati with a major league-worst 17 blown saves, combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Santiago Casilla pitched the ninth for his 21st save.

That helped San Francisco to its second straight home win over Arizona after getting swept in a four-game series at AT&T Park in April.

''These guys are also still trying to figure themselves out, what it takes physically to endure a full season,'' said Romo, who retired all three batters he faced in his third appearance since coming off the disabled list on July 4. ''There's a couple guys, this is their first full season. A lot of it is feeling themselves out. But then again, they came in here because they've got stuff and they're ready to rock.''

Brandon Belt had an RBI triple, Grant Green homered for the first time this season and Angel Pagan added two hits for the Giants, who have won seven of nine and are a major league-best 56-33.

George Kontos (2-1), one of six relievers used by Bochy after Peavy was knocked out of the game, retired four batters for the win.

Arizona's Robbie Ray (4-8) gave up three runs and six hits in five innings in his third start against San Francisco this season. He struck out seven and walked three.

Pagan singled with two outs in the third then had to be checked by a team trainer after getting hit in the back of the head by the ball while stealing second base. Belt followed with his triple to right-center.

The Diamondbacks took the lead with four consecutive hits to open the fourth before Green's two-run home run in the bottom of the inning put the Giants ahead 3-2.

''We had opportunities to get guys in and we didn't do it,'' Arizona manager Chip Hale said. ''The guys in that room are taking responsibility. It's not like they're ducking it or making excuses.''

ON THE MONEY

All-Star catcher Buster Posey has thrown out 50 percent of base stealers this season but showed off his accuracy in a completely different fashion when he was tossing the ball back to Peavy in the fourth. Peavy had his headed turned while yelling at third base umpire Quinn Wolcott over a call on a checked swing and wasn't paying attention as the ball arced in the air, deflected off his chest and landed cleanly in his glove. ''I was so hot over the check swing that it wasn't comical in the moment,'' Peavy said. ''It was funny to look back on.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke was expected to throw after the game for the first time since going on the disabled list with a strained left oblique last week. ... RHP Daniel Hudson was activated off the bereavement list..

Giants: RHP Matt Cain will make one more rehab start in the minors before rejoining the big league club. Bochy indicated Cain will likely pitch in a two-game series in Boston on July 19-20 but did not say which game. ... INF Kelby Tomlinson (left thumb sprain) is continuing his rehab with Triple-A Sacramento.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Archie Bradley (3-4) starts the series finale Sunday.

Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (9-4), who was voted in but will not pitch in the All-Star game, goes for San Francisco.