SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Right-hander Tim Hudson made his first start since breaking his ankle on July 24, pitching two no-hit innings, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 Sunday.
Hudson, who signed a two-year, $23 million free-agent contract over the winter, threw 27 pitches and struck out a batter. He also helped turn a first base-to-shortstop-to pitcher double play to end the second. He broke his ankle while covering first base against Atlanta.
Left-hander Wade Miley pitched four innings and gave up a run on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts for the Diamondbacks.
STARTING TIME
Diamondbacks: Miley made his first start of the spring and looked strong, as he did in the second half of 2013, when he had a 4-3 record and 2.93 ERA in 14 starts. He finished 10-10 with a 3.55 ERA.
“I felt good today,” said Miley, who finished second in 2012 National League Rookie of the Year balloting. “There’s always a question mark going in, but I was able to throw all my pitches and located pretty well. I was able to knock the rust off.”
Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said Miley pitched better after struggling early.
“He was sharp,” Gibson said. “I know he’s been champing at the bit.”
Giants: Hudson was tested on two defensive plays in the second inning.
On the first play, he got over to first base a bit late on a ball hit into the hole between first and second by Eric Chavez, his former teammate in Oakland. The throw from first baseman Brandon Belt was a bit high and went over Hudson’s head, ruled an error on Belt.
On the second play, he again covered first on a ball hit to Belt with a man at first. Belt threw the ball to shortstop Brandon Crawford for a force at second, and the return throw to Hudson got Arizona catcher Miguel Montero.
“I just started last week (on fielding plays),” Hudson said. “On that first play, I probably could have caught it. I’m just old and slow. He is used to those young, fast pitchers coming over there. It was like trying to take an old, vintage car to a drag race.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: None.
Giants: Belt came out of the game after just three innings with a stiff neck, a precautionary measure, according to Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
Left-handed setup man Jeremy Affeldt is due to pitch one inning in a B game against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa on Monday.
DEFENSIVE GEM
Diamondbacks right fielder Gerardo Parra didn’t wait long to show off his NL Gold Glove defensive ability.
When the Giants’ Angel Pagan led off the bottom of the first with a single to shallow right and strayed a bit too far off first base while making the turn, Parra made him pay by throwing him out.
CLOSING IN
Right-hander Brad Ziegler, who was 8-1 and saved 13 games for Arizona when he assumed the closer’s role in the second half of 2013, had a rough outing against the Giants. He took the loss after giving up four earned runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Meanwhile, right-hander Addison Reed, expected to be the closer this year after being acquired in a trade after saving 40 games for the Chicago White Sox, pitched the sixth inning and gave up a double to Gregor Blanco before getting a strikeout to end the inning.
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