Trevor McDonald allows 1 hit over 6 scoreless innings as Giants finally beat Diamondbacks, 6-4

PHOENIX (AP) — Trevor McDonald pitched six scoreless innings, Victor Bericoto hit a two-run homer and the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 on Wednesday night.

Heliot Ramos had a solo homer and an RBI triple to help the Giants snap an eight-game skid against Arizona. San Francisco avoided being swept by the Diamondbacks for the third time this year and its first 0-9 start to a season against a single opponent in franchise history.

McDonald (3-6) allowed one hit — a leadoff single by Ketel Marte in the fourth — and struck out five without a walk. The 25-year-old right-hander was 0-6 with a 6.47 ERA in his previous seven starts.

Caleb Kilian pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts for his seventh save.

Ramos, Bericoto, Jung Hoo Lee and Drew Cavanaugh had two hits apiece.

Ramos hit the first pitch in the fifth 427 feet over the wall in center field. Lee followed with a single and, two pitches later, Bericoto added a 422-foot shot that made it 3-0.

Rafael Devers walked with two outs in the sixth and Ramos tripled off the top of the wall in center before Lee and Cavanaugh added run-scoring singles that gave the Giants a 6-0 lead.

Arizona starter Zac Gallen (3-8) gave up six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Marte had two hits, including an RBI double, and two stolen bases. Pavin Smith and Corbin Carroll each added an RBI in a four-run eighth.

The Giants begin a series Friday at Colorado.

The Diamondbacks host a three-game series against Milwaukee that begins Friday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, right, steals third base as San Francisco Giants third baseman Casey Schmitt, left, applies a late tag during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen pauses on the pitcher's mound after giving up a two-run home against San Francisco Giants' Victor Bericoto during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos, right, celebrates his home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Giants' Victor Bericoto (78) during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos watches the flight of his home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Trevor McDonald throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has chosen five-test flyhalf Ruben Love in his starting lineup for New Zealand's Nations Championship opener against France at Christchurch.

In his first All Blacks lineup as head coach, Rennie preferred Love at No. 10 over veterans Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie. Love outplayed both of those players during the recent Super Rugby playoffs and offers a point of difference in his playing style.

The 25-year-old Love's instinct to take on the defensive line differs from the 145-test veteran Barrett, who tends to hand off or kick before the defensive line, and 74-test McKenzie, who often runs laterally before straightening to test the defense.

Love will combine in the inside backs on Saturday with his Hurricanes teammates Cam Roigard at scrumhalf and Jordie Barrett at inside center, as Rennie retains a tested grouping. McKenzie is at fullback and Beauden Barrett has not made the match 23.

The only uncapped players in the squad — Hurricanes prop Xavier Numia and winger Fehi Fineanganofo — will make their All Blacks debuts from the bench. Fineanganofo was the leading try-scorer in Super Rugby this year with 17.

Ardie Savea will captain the team from the back of the scrum. Luke Jacobson will start on the open side and Peter Lakai on the blindside.

“We have selected an exciting blend of experience and youth, with a powerful bench that will add impact,” Rennie said. “We know we will be facing a formidable French side with a strong set piece, kicking game and ability to keep the ball alive so we will need to be physical, accurate and alert.

“We’ve worked hard and connected well over the past nine days. That clarity will give us the opportunity to express ourselves.”

Codie Taylor will play his 107th test at hooker, with powerful Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua will start on the bench. Rennie has retained last year's propping combination of Ethan de Groot and Fletcher Newell with Numia and Tyrel Lomax to come off the bench.

Josh Lord and Sam Darry will combine in the second row in the absence of former captain Scott Barrett, who is injured.

With McKenzie at fullback, Will Jordan will start on the right wing and Caleb Clarke on the left. Quinn Tupaea will partner Jordie Barrett in midfield.

Saturday's match is the first in the new 12-team Nations Championship. Other matches in the first round will take place in Tokyo, where Japan will play Italy, Sydney, where Australia will play Ireland, Johannesburg, where South Africa will play England, Cardiff, where Fiji will play Wales, and Cordoba, where Argentina will play Scotland.

New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (captain), Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu, Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Billy Proctor, Fehi Fineanganofo.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

FILE - New Zealand's Ardie Savea poses, Oct. 29, 2023, in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla, File)

FILE -New Zealand's Ruben Love, right, celebrates after scoring a try during the Nation's Series rugby union international between Wales and New Zealand in Cardiff, Wales, Nov. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)