PHOENIX — Justin Verlander delivered the start the Giants needed, and the offense finally broke through in the 11th inning as San Francisco held on for a 5-1 win over the D-backs on Wednesday afternoon to end a tough series at Chase Field on a high note.
After D-backs right-hander Brandon Pfaadt shut out the Giants on one hit for nine innings, Jerar Encarnacion, Christian Koss and Rafael Devers came through in the 11th as San Francisco snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Giants remain tied with the Reds at 2 1/2 games behind the Mets for the third and final National League Wild Card spot. The D-backs are the first team on the outside looking in, two games back, pending the outcome of New York’s game later Wednesday.
San Francisco was able to withstand Pfaadt’s gem because Verlander held Arizona scoreless on three hits and two walks over seven innings, giving the veteran the first four-start stretch of his career with one or zero runs allowed. In the past 125 seasons, the only other pitcher age 42 or older to do so was Roger Clemens, in 2005.
Before Encarnacion’s single broke the scoreless tie, the Giants had two hits over their past 18 innings since scoring four runs in the first on Tuesday.
