Williams Too Offensive for Giants

Matt Williams got three hits, scored three runs and exchanged angry words with Dusty Baker during a bench-clearing scuffle Sunday as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants, 12-4.

Mark Grace homered and tripled, driving in three runs as the Diamondbacks pounded San Francisco’s pitching staff again. Arizona won two of three from its National League West rival with 21 runs and 25 hits in the final two games of the series.

But the real fireworks came in the sixth inning, when Giant left-hander Chad Zerbe was ejected for throwing a pitch behind Williams.

After Williams and Zerbe had words as the teams met on the field, there was a confrontation between Williams and Baker, who managed Williams in San Francisco from 1993-96.

Giant coaches Robby Thompson and Sonny Jackson intervened and no punches were thrown. But it was an ugly moment capping two ugly days for San Francisco’s playoff hopes.

The Diamondbacks, who took an early 8-0 lead, have won five of six at Pacific Bell Park this season and seven of nine overall against the defending division champions.

Barry Bonds, leading the majors with 42 homers, was hitless in three at-bats. He has three homers in his last 23 games, dropping one homer behind the record-setting pace of Mark McGwire in 1998.

Brian Anderson (3-6), who won for the first time since May 22, retired San Francisco’s first 12 hitters. His streak ended when Jeff Kent, Eric Davis and Benito Santiago hit consecutive homers on six pitches to lead off the fifth inning.

Anderson recovered and wound up pitching eight solid innings, yielding four runs and six hits to end his three-game losing streak.