The Diamondbacks fell behind early and never recovered, losing, 5-3, to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night, Sept. 9, at Oracle Park, dealing another blow to their dwindling playoff hopes.

The loss extended their skid to three games at a time when nearly every game feels like a must-win. All three days, the Diamondbacks missed chances to gain ground on the New York Mets in the race for the final wild-card spot in the National League. They remain 4 1/2 games out.

The Giants, however, continue to make a strong push. They are two games back of the Mets.

The Diamondbacks were down 3-0 after just three batters in the bottom of the first inning.

Right-hander Zac Gallen issued walks to Heliot Ramos and Rafael Devers to open the inning — Gallen deserves some slack on the first walk; home plate umpire Doug Eddings missed a call on the 3-2 pitch to Ramos — and Willy Adames followed with a three-run homer.

The Diamondbacks played from behind the rest of the night. They made Giants lefty Robbie Ray work, chasing him from the game after five innings and 95 pitches, then mounted a rally against Giants lefty Matt Gage in the sixth, getting hits from three of the first four hitters of the inning to score a run, cutting the lead to 5-3.

But with runners on second and third and one out, the Giants went to rookie reliever Joel Peguero, who struck out Tim Tawa and Adrian Del Castillo to extinguish the threat.

The Diamondbacks made noise again in the ninth but came up empty-handed. After the first two batters reached, the Diamondbacks sent pinch-hitter Connor Kaiser to the plate to bunt the runners over, but Kaiser popped it up, and the Giants got a force out at third for the first out of the inning.

Pinch-hitter Alek Thomas popped out and Ketel Marte grounded out to end the game.

Aside from being well back of the Mets, the Diamondbacks now find themselves 1 1/2 games back of the Cincinnati Reds and 2 1/2 behind the Giants. The Diamondbacks have the same record as the St. Louis Cardinals; both teams are 72-74.

Coming up

Sept. 10: At San Francisco, 12:45 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (7-8, 5.22) vs. Giants RHP Carson Seymour (1-2, 4.25).

Sept. 11: Off.

Sept. 12: At Minnesota, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (13-8, 5.18) vs. Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (5-4, 2.84).

Sept. 13: At Minnesota, 4:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (7-3, 3.48) vs. Twins RHP Joe Ryan (13-8, 3.32).

Sept. 14: At Minnesota, 11:10 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Nabil Crismatt (2-0, 3.24) vs. Twins RHP Bailey Ober (5-7, 5.08).

(This story has been updated to add new information.)