SAN FRANCISCO — Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt served up the first career home run to the Giants’ Christian Koss — a grand slam in the second inning — and the Arizona Diamondbacks trail, 6-3, in the bottom of the fifth on Tuesday night, May 13.
The Diamondbacks jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first against Giants lefty Robbie Ray. They collected five hits in the inning, including a run-scoring double from Eugenio Suarez and a two-run single from Josh Naylor.
But the Giants loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, getting an infield single from Wilmer Flores before Pfaadt walked Willy Adames and Patrick Bailey. Then with the count 0-1, Koss turned on a sinker down and in, lifting it to left field, where it reached the front row just beyond the fence.
The Diamondbacks put runners on against Ray in the second and fourth innings but failed to capitalize. In the fourth, they had first and second for Corbin Carroll, but Ray struck him out after falling behind 3-0.
Adames added to the San Francisco lead with a two-run homer to left off Juan Morillo in the fifth inning.
Perdomo welcomes Lawlar’s 1st start
With Jordan Lawlar’s first start of the season coming at shortstop, Geraldo Perdomo headed to the bench.
And Perdomo sounds completely on board with it.
“It’s OK,” Perdomo said. “I do want to mention something to everyone here in the clubhouse: The owner, the president, the GM, they invested a lot of money in this team and all these players, but at the end of the day whatever is the best decision for the manager and the GM, to put the best lineup to win, everybody has to be on board with that decision.”
Manager Torey Lovullo said he spoke on May 12 with Perdomo and second baseman Ketel Marte about the possibility of Lawlar getting starts at their positions in the coming weeks. He said he had yet to find time to chat with third baseman Eugenio Suarez but plans to do so.
“Everybody’s receptive to it,” Lovullo said. “I think they all know they can’t play every day. And eventually they will. I’m not saying this is something that’s going to go all the way through August and September because things change. I want guys to be as fresh as possible at the most meaningful time of the year.”
Lawlar is hitting eighth against the Giants, one day after getting recalled following a scorching hot start at Triple-A Reno.
Both Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen have said Perdomo, Marte and Suarez remain the club’s everyday players, adding that they expect Lawlar to get “three or four” starts a week bouncing around the infield.
Perdomo said the Diamondbacks “don’t have any egos in here,” adding that he was glad to see Lawlar back with the team.
“He deserves to play,” Perdomo said. “He’s a great player. I don’t care if he plays shortstop, second, center field — if he is in the lineup and he’s going to help us to win, then it’s the best decision and I’m going to agree with that. I don’t care if I’m hitting good or bad, there’s no ego. He’s my brother and I’m going to support whatever decision they make for the team.”
Perdomo said the uncertainty about Lawlar’s long-term position doesn’t change how he views him going forward.
“I feel like he’s going to be a big part of this thing,” Perdomo said. “Unfortunately, he got hurt last year, but he’s been here since 2023. He deserves to play. He’s a good player. There was a reason he was the sixth overall pick (in 2021). He deserves to play.
“If the manager feels like he needs to play, no one can be mad. I don’t care if it’s me, I don’t care if it’s Suarez, I don’t care if it’s Marte — no one can be mad. If he’s going to help this team to win, then it’s a good decision.”
Banister back with team after health scare
Bench coach Jeff Banister was back with the Diamondbacks on May 13 and feeling good after missing the previous night’s game due to a health scare.
Banister, 61, said he experienced an episode of what doctors determined was transient global amnesia, a condition in which a person is unable to form new memories for a period of time.
“When I woke up yesterday morning, I obviously felt worn out,” Banister said. “I talked to Karen (his wife) on the phone. I told her I was going to go lay back down and take a nap. Next thing I knew I found myself here at the clubhouse and didn’t know how I got here.”
He said he went through a battery of tests that determined he did not have a stroke or any heart issues, adding that his “body is good, mind is still good.”
Banister believes he hasn’t been taking good enough care of his body in the sense of eating right, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep.
“I’ve been a guy that pushes hard for the last 40 years,” he said. “I’ll still be that guy, but paying attention to making sure we take care of ourselves is paramount.”
Banister said he was thankful to be surrounded by good people with the club who pushed him to get checked out “when I probably didn’t want to.”
“I feel great today,” he said. “I woke up this morning a clear head, clear eyes. Body feels good. It’s nice to have great people around you to take care of you. I feel tremendous today.”
Coming up
May 14: At San Francisco, 12:45 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3, 6.86) vs. Giants RHP Jordan Hicks (1-4, 5.82).
May 15: Off.
May 16: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Corbin Burnes (2-1, 2.95) vs. Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-2, 4.75).
May 17: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (3-5, 4.59) vs. Rockies RHP Germán Marquez (1-6, 8.27).
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