Randal Grichuk hits 2 homers in D-backs’ narrow win vs. Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Even the best-laid roster construction plans can’t always account for the everyday grind of a big league season.

That was apparent as Arizona penciled first baseman Christian Walker into its lineup for the first time in more than a month, only to lose outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain ahead of Tuesday’s 8-7 win over the Giants.

Gurriel expressed disappointment at having to miss time at such a critical point in the season: After the D-backs’ series-opening victory, they sit a half-game back of the Padres for the top NL Wild Card spot and six games back of the Dodgers in the NL West.

But, speaking through interpreter Rolando Valles, Gurriel offered a reason for optimism: “The boys have stepped up” in the face of adversity.

Tuesday’s win wasn’t a pretty one in the end, after the Giants dropped a four-spot on Ryan Thompson in the eighth and pulled within one in the ninth before Justin Martinez shut the door for his eighth save.

The decisive run ended up coming by way of two of the team’s stars, Walker and Corbin Carroll — who extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games in the first inning before scoring on Walker’s first hit back from the IL in the ninth.

But the foundation for the victory came before then, before the Giants’ late rally made it a competitive contest. While the win wouldn’t have been possible without contributions from up and down the roster, it began with big performances from Randal Grichuk and Ryne Nelson.

And after a tough series against the Dodgers — and a 2-5 homestand overall — starting the road trip with a win was just what the doctor ordered.

“We’re obviously trying to go out there and win every ballgame,” Nelson said. “I think that this was a complete team effort, and I think that that’s what it’s going to take down the stretch.”

Grichuk went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs on a pair of long balls for the 12th multihomer game of his career and his first since Sept. 6, 2022. Nelson struck out a career-high-tying nine Giants batters across 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball and has not lost a decision since June 26.

With the stretch run underway, Grichuk and Nelson have become key to a D-backs club that is eyeing a repeat trip to the postseason. Both may have played their way into bigger roles than they originally were expected to fill.

Grichuk has been reliable as the club’s main designated hitter against left-handed pitchers, but he’s been locked in since the beginning of August, hitting .333 (16-for-48) with five homers, three doubles and 11 RBIs in 19 games.

With Giants lefty Kyle Harrison on the mound, Josh Bell was the DH, but Grichuk made his first appearance in the outfield since Aug. 17, starting in left in place of Gurriel. If he continues to stay hot, Grichuk could be playing his way into more appearances against right-handers, too.

“He’s hot, and when he’s hot, he can carry a ballclub,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “The two-run home run [in the first inning] let us exhale a little bit in the dugout. After a little bit of a grinding series against the Dodgers, and a tough homestand, we got out to an early lead. I think we collectively felt better and we just kept pacing it, and he did a great job.”

Had all gone as planned for the D-backs, Nelson might not be in the rotation at this point in the year — he won an in-season position battle to stay in the rotation over free-agent acquisition Jordan Montgomery, after all.

While Nelson had shown flashes of brilliance in the past, he is performing at a consistently high level just when his team needs him to. In 12 appearances (11 starts) since the beginning of July, Nelson is 5-0 with a 2.76 ERA and 75 strikeouts against 14 walks.

Should Nelson and the D-backs keep rolling down the stretch, the 26-year-old right-hander could be a weapon in the postseason.

“He’s going after guys,” Grichuk said. “I mean, he’s trusting his stuff, he’s confident. I’m not saying he is, but he’s going out there trying to bully guys. … We know we’re going to get a competitor when he’s out there, and that’s first and foremost what I want to see and want to play behind.”