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Diamondbacks Battle Tough Until Heilman Hangs A Change in the 11th Inning, Giants 2-0

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Nate Schierholtz ended a pitchers' duel with a two-run triple in the 11th inning, leading the surging Giants to a 2-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks to start a three-game series.

Aubrey Huff and Edgar Renteria each finished with a pair of hits for the Giants, who climbed to within a half-game of the struggling Padres in the NL West and to within a game of the Phillies in the wild card race. San Francisco has won five of six overall.

Madison Bumgarner threw a gem, shutting out the D'Backs for 7 1/3 innings. He allowed five hits and a walk while fanning seven. Santiago Casilla (6-2) earned the win, and Brian Wilson tied a career-high with his 41st save.

Ian Kennedy's eight shutout innings went for naught, as the Diamondbacks lost their third straight. Kennedy, who allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out six, has a 2.12 ERA in his last four starts.

Aaron Heilman (5-7) took the loss.

The Giants used a two-out rally off Heilman to score the game's only runs.

The first two batters of the 11th were quickly retired, but Huff and Buster Posey both singled in front of the right fielder, who was playing deep to prevent an extra-base hit. Schierholtz followed with a drive into the right-center field gap for a two-run triple.

Wilson pitched around a leadoff walk in the home half to lock down the victory.

Neither team put a runner on third until the Diamondbacks threatened in the eighth.

Kennedy drove a Bumgarner pitch over the drawn-in outfield for a leadoff double and moved to third on Stephen Drew's deep fly ball. Sergio Romo relieved Bumgarner and walked pinch-hitter Ryan Church on four pitches, leading the Giants to put in Javier Lopez.

Lopez got out of the jam, striking out Kelly Johnson before inducing a fielder's choice groundout from Chris Young.

The Giants answered by putting together a scoring threat in the top of the ninth off Juan Gutierrez.

Andres Torres hit a one-out single and attempted to steal second. On the pitch, Freddy Sanchez hit a soft ground ball to where Drew is normally stationed at shortstop. The ball dribbled into shallow left field, allowing Torres to reach third.

Gutierrez, though, induced a harmless pop up from Huff before Posey lofted a fly ball to shallow right-center. Gerardo Parra charged in and made a spectacular sliding catch to prevent a run from scoring and end the inning.

Bumgarner has been excellent on the road and has a 5-2 record with a 2.25 ERA in eight starts...The Giants lead the season series, 9-4...San Francisco is 52-17 when scoring first...Wilson tied Gary Lavelle for third place on the franchise's all-time saves list with 127.