SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco catcher Bengie Molina made a sliding catch of Eric Byrnes’ foul ball next to the backstop to end another scoreless inning. Byrnes threw his helmet down and kicked his bat across the AT&T Park grass, and frustration bubbled in the Diamondbacks clubhouse after another afternoon without hits.

The 460-foot home run Sunday did not bother Mike Koplove as much as the grounder that tipped off his glove.

SAN FRANCISCO - The D-Backs tweaked their lineup in deference to San Francisco starter Jason Schmidt on Wednesday but could not goose their results.

SAN FRANCISCO — For the Diamondbacks, still shaking off the jet lag from a cross-country flight the day before, Tuesday’s series opener at SBC Park seemed to have all the enjoyment of a December dip in McCovey Cove.

DP_San Francisco 1. LOB_San Francisco 6, Arizona 6. 2B_Fontenot (15), A.Hill (12), M.Montero (36), Goldschmidt (9), Blum (3), Cowgill (3). HR_An.Torres (4), Beltran (22). SB_G.Parra (15).

E_R.Roberts (13), D.Hudson (2). DP_San Francisco 2. LOB_Arizona 3, San Francisco 4. 3B_Bloomquist (2), Beltran (6). HR_R.Roberts (18), C.Ross (12). CS_A.Hill (2).

DP_Arizona 2, San Francisco 1. LOB_Arizona 7, San Francisco 6. 2B_J.Upton (37), M.Montero (32), C.Ross (21), Keppinger (18). 3B_R.Roberts (2), Beltran (5). HR_C.Ross (11), Beltran (17). SF_A.Hill.

DP_Arizona 2. LOB_San Francisco 7, Arizona 6. 2B_R.Roberts (25), A.Hill (11), C.Young (38). 3B_A.Hill (2), Goldschmidt (1). HR_O.Cabrera (1). CS_DeRosa (1). S_Christian, A.Hill, J.Saunders.

It took Max Scherzer 14 starts to gain his first major league victory. Now he has three wins in five starts after pitching the Arizona Diamondbacks over the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Thursday.

The Diamondbacks’ great opportunity has been upended, literally and figuratively.

For Sunday’s drive to work, Bob Brenly tried a different vehicle, different driver and different route.

They finally got Moises Alou back last week. But they might not get Armando Benitez back at all. And then there is the when-will-Barry-Bonds-return pool.

SAN FRANCISCO - Watch this Diamondbacks team for a while, and one thing becomes clear: It should never be assumed they have hit rock bottom.

Scottsdale will unveil designs next week proposed to transform the city’s oldest golf course into a spring training facility for the San Francisco Giants, leaving little doubt as to whether the city can build in the nearby flood plain.

The Diamondbacks have another slot to fill in their bullpen with the departure of free agent Tim Worrell.

The San Francisco Giants said Friday they will keep their spring training home in Scottsdale until at least 2025 if the city and the Cactus League show they care with a $23.1 million fix-up project.

March 12, 2005

Horizon right-hander Tim Alderson, the 22nd player chosen in Major League Baseball’s June Amateur draft, has signed with the San Francisco Giants.

A Scottsdale official who is leading negotiations to expand spring training operations for the San Francisco Giants said it will be another 45 days before a final plan is brought forward for a vote.

October 23, 2004