Giants lose to Diamondbacks 8-6 in 11 innings

SAN FRANCISCO – Giants manager Bruce Bochy used a record 11 pitchers and 25 players in all, trying just about anything to pull out a nail-biter against Arizona.

The only consolation after a grueling loss for the NL West leaders was that the Los Angeles Dodgers went down the same way.

Aaron Hill had a career-high five hits and Jason Kubel tripled home the tiebreaking run in the 11th inning to lead the Diamondbacks over San Francisco 8-6 on Tuesday night.

Still, the Giants remained 4½ games ahead of second-place Los Angeles because the Dodgers also lost at home in 11 innings, to San Diego.

"It definitely helps that they lost, too," Brandon Belt said. "Our focus has to be coming out here every day and winning as many games as possible. We control our own destiny."

San Francisco called on 11 pitchers, matching a major league mark for extra-inning games. The Giants also tied a franchise high by using 25 players, a record 13 in the No. 9 spot.

"Wow, part of a major league record," said reliever Sergio Romo, who tossed two hitless innings. "That's kind of cool. Still, we have to keep fighting, like we did tonight."

Belt had three hits, including a two-run homer, to help San Francisco rally from a 6-2 deficit. Pablo Sandoval knocked in two runs, but the Giants had their three-game winning streak stopped.

"There's something special about this team that we kept fighting no matter what the situation," Belt said. "I can't say enough about what everybody in here is doing."

Josh Collmenter (4-3) pitched two innings for the win.

Hill opened the 11th with a single off George Kontos (1-1) and scored on Kubel's one-out triple to right-center off Javier Lopez. After an intentional walk to Paul Goldschmidt, Miguel Montero added an RBI single.

Diamondbacks starter Ian Kennedy, who also drove in a run, took a three-hitter into the sixth. He was pulled after Brandon Crawford doubled as the potential tying run.

Kennedy was charged with five runs and seven hits over 5 2-3 innings. He walked one and struck out five.

"We got down and came back against a guy who's been tough on us," Bochy said. "We couldn't quite finish it. The guys did a great job of swinging the bats and the bullpen did a great job of keeping us in it."

Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong lasted 3 1-3 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

After pitching at least six innings in his first 21 starts, Vogelsong has failed to get out of the fourth in three of the past five. He has a 10.13 ERA during that span, giving up 24 runs and 37 hits in 21 1-3 innings.

"My ball was just flat," Vogelsong said.

Sandoval followed Marco Scutaro's first-inning triple with a groundout to put the Giants ahead 1-0.

The Diamondbacks tied it on Kennedy's RBI single in the second and took the lead in the third when Goldschmidt doubled home a run and McDonald singled home two more.

The Giants got one back when Scutaro doubled in the third.

Hill's two-run homer in the fourth put Arizona ahead 6-2 and ended Vogelsong's night.

Hunter Pence doubled home a run and scored on Belt's two-run homer in the sixth to cut it to 6-5. Sandoval singled home a run in the seventh to tie it.

"We're using everybody," Bochy said. "It's a good thing we called up a couple more guys. Hopefully we'll get our starters back on track. It's going to be important that we pitch well. There's no getting around that."

NOTES: Giants broadcasters Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper called the game from center field. The game-time temperature was 57 degrees, with the wind blowing out to center. ... Pence had two assists from right field. ... The Giants added INF Emmanuel Burriss, RHP Dan Otero and LHP Dan Runzler to the roster. RHP Eric Hacker was designated for assignment to make room for Burriss on the 40-man roster. ... RHP Trevor Cahill (9-11, 3.99 ERA) starts for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. He is 0-2 against the Giants this year but 3-2 overall. LHP Madison Bumgarner (14-9, 3.07) goes for the Giants. He is 0-2 against Arizona this year and 3-2 overall.