SAN FRANCISCO -- The ace pitcher threw eight shutout innings, the closer recorded a perfect ninth and the star slugger belted a difference-making home run.

Saturday's 2-0 win over the San Francisco Giants was one of those perfect nights for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Well ... except for one thing.

"I wanted to go out there and drag him off the field," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of his starter, Zack Greinke, who twice slid into bases. "He's too important to do that."

Greinke brushed off the dirt to throw eight two-hit innings to lift the Diamondbacks to a franchise-record-tying ninth consecutive road victory.

The win allowed the Diamondbacks (87-62) to remain five games atop the National League wild-card standings with 13 to play.

Paul Goldschmidt provided all the offensive support Greinke would need with a two-run, first-inning homer.

Madison Bumgarner (3-9) was the hard-luck loser for the Giants (57-93), who have dropped four in a row and are within seven defeats of their first 100-loss season since 1985.

"We didn't win, but I gave the team a chance and you have to feel good about it," Bumgarner said. "This year just hasn't worked out for us. It's frustrating for everybody."

Greinke (17-6) won his third straight decision by allowing only singles to Joe Panik in the first inning and Brandon Crawford in the fifth. He walked one and struck out eight.

It was the fifth time Greinke has pitched eight or more innings this season and the third that he hasn't allowed a run.

"Was good. Wasn't dominant," Greinke said afterward. "There were a couple balls hit pretty well that we barely ran down."

Closer Fernando Rodney pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 38th save, completing Greinke's second combined shutout of the season and the team's 11th.

The Giants have been shut out 11 times, most in the NL.

Greinke improved to 11-2 all-time against the Giants, remained unbeaten (5-0) at AT&T Park, and beat Bumgarner head-to-head for a fifth consecutive time.

The closest the Giants came to scoring was in the sixth inning, when a two-base throwing error on shortstop Kristopher Negron and a two-out walk put the potential tying runs on the bases.

But Greinke struck out Jarrett Parker to end the threat.

"When Greinke is on and hitting the edges, he's real tough," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Their rotation is really good. You look at how they're dealing. All their guys have stepped up. It's definitely a different club and it starts with pitching."

Greinke also recorded two of the Diamondbacks' seven hits against Bumgarner, a pair of doubles. The first ended with a feet-first slide into second. The second led to an ill-advised dash for third, where he got tagged out going head-first.

He seemed more excited about his hits against Bumgarner than anything he did on the mound, or on the bases.

"He's got a couple homers on me," said Greinke, who has given up just three home runs to pitchers in his career, two to Bumgarner. "My swing has felt good in (batting practice) lately."

Goldschmidt's homer, his 35th of the season, came after David Peralta had led off the game with a first-pitch single.

Goldschmidt also hit the first pitch, raising his season RBI total to 115.

"That was the key to the game," Lovullo said of the home run. "You don't know how many you're going to get against Madison Bumgarner. Goldy steps up to the plate and gets us two runs.

"Nothing Goldy does surprised me. He's a special player. He does special things at special times."

Greinke and Brandon Drury had two hits apiece for the Diamondbacks, who improved to a season-best 25 games over .500.

The Diamondbacks, who have beaten the Giants five times in a row, clinched the season series over their NL West rival with a 10-5 record.

NOTES: The Diamondbacks' ninth straight road win matched the franchise record set in August 2002. ... Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt's home run was his 18th career hit against Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner. Only Colorado Rockies RF Carlos Gonzalez (19) has more. ... Bumgarner has given up seven home runs in his last four starts. ... The Giants' two hits matched a season low. ... Giants RF Hunter Pence (back spasms) sat out the game after suffering the injury diving for a fly ball in Friday's loss. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Pence also is unlikely to play in Sunday's series finale. ... The Giants celebrated Hall of Famer 1B Orlando Cepeda's 80th birthday before the game. Giants greats CF Willie Mays, 1B Willie McCovey and RHP Gaylord Perry were on hand for the on-field festivities.