|
 Catcher Buster Posey and second baseman Kelby Tomlinson contributed
RBI doubles to a two-run, tiebreaking sixth inning, and four San
Francisco relievers combined for eight outs of perfect relief,
leading the Giants to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Beating the Cubs for the first time in the teams' past six meetings,
the Giants (67-59) kept pace with the National League West-leading
Los Angeles Dodgers (69-56), who won earlier Wednesday at
Cincinnati. The Dodgers' lead over the Giants remains 2 1/2 games.
"We needed this game," said Giants starter Jake Peavy, who set the
stage for his relief help with 6 1/3 innings of five-hit, two-run
pitching. "Especially after watching the Dodgers play (earlier in
the evening)."
The Cubs (73-52) lost for just the sixth time in their past 21 road
games. They also lost ground to both the first-place St. Louis
Cardinals (81-45) and wild-card-leading Pittsburgh Pirates (76-49)
in the NL Central.
"It is a learning process," Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber said of
the challenges of facing the defending World Series champions and
their vaunted pitching staff. "You just make adjustments and hope to
get better."
After each team got two runs in the first inning, the score remained
2-2 into the pivotal sixth inning.
Giants first baseman Brandon Belt tripled past diving center fielder
Chris Denorfia to begin the uprising.
Posey followed with just his third hit in 22 at-bats, a double to
right-center field off Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks that scored Belt
with the eventual game-winning run.
One out later, Tomlinson improved to 5-for-14 (.357) with runners in
scoring position in his brief Giants career, slicing a double to
right field that plated Posey to make it 4-2.
"Great win for us with all the injuries," said Giants manager Bruce
Bochy, whose club was without second baseman Joe Panik, shortstop
Brandon Crawford and outfielders Hunter Pence, Angel Pagan and
Gregor Blanco.
Even standout third baseman Matt Duffy sustained a sprained right
ankle Wednesday that required postgame X-rays.
"You have to go with your guys and hope they do their job," Bochy
said. "And they did."
That was especially true of the Giants' bullpen.
The Cubs, who had won six in a row, threatened to get even in the
seventh when Giants left fielder Nori Aoki misplayed pinch hitter
Tommy La Stella's line drive into a two-base error, putting the
potential tying runs in scoring position with just one out.
Right-hander Hunter Strickland replaced Peavy at that point and
struck out Cubs shortstop Addison Russell for the second out, and
lefty Javier Lopez came on to whiff Schwarber to end the threat and
retain the two-run cushion.
"That's what we get paid for," Strickland said.
Added Peavy, "I'm so proud of Javy. ... That's why we've got him."
Right-hander Sergio Romo worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning to set the
stage for closer Santiago Casilla, who recorded his 31st save by
striking out two of the three Cubs he faced in the ninth.
Bochy took time to credit Peavy (4-6), whose win was the fourth in
his past six decisions. Peavy walked three and struck out three.
"That's what we really need out of the starters -- quality start,
get deep in the game," the manager said. "That lets us use the
bullpen like we did."
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The four Giants relievers combined for 2 2/3 innings of perfect
relief, striking out four.
Hendricks (6-6) took the loss, his first since July 22. He gave up
all four Giants runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out
six.
"The two walks (with two outs in the first inning). That's just not
me," Hendricks cited as the most disappointing aspect of his outing.
"In between (the first and sixth innings) was good. Just got to
build off that."
Four of the Giants' five hits against Hendricks went for extra
bases, including Aoki's leadoff home run in the first inning. The
home run was his fifth of the season and second as the Giants' first
batter of the game.
Belt had two of the Giants' six hits.
Schwarber and third baseman Kris Bryant, both of whom doubled in
Chicago's two-run first, had two hits apiece for the Cubs.
For Bryant, the multi-hit game was the fourth in his past seven road
games. He is hitting .433 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in his
past eight games.
Both teams scored two runs in the first inning, each taking
advantage of an unusual occurrence to make it happen.
Bryant got the Cubs on the board first with a two-out, two-run
single that scored Schwarber and right fielder Chris Coghlan.
The inning would have been over earlier if not for the fact that
Peavy and Posey ran together on Schwarber's game-opening popup in
front of the mound. The ball fell untouched as Schwarber hustled
into second base, credited with a double.
Aoki got one of those runs back on Hendricks' second pitch, and the
Giants then loaded the bases with two outs on three walks.
Hendricks appeared to get out of the jam when he got center fielder
Juan Perez to ground to shortstop, but Tomlinson outran Russell's
routine throw to second base, allowing right fielder Marlon Byrd to
score the tying run.
NOTES: X-rays on Giants 3B Matt Duffy's right ankle were negative.
Duffy was injured when he clashed legs with Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo on
a play at first in the first inning, but he played the entire game.
... Giants manager Bruce Bochy said if he had to take Duffy out of
the game, he probably would have moved C Buster Posey to third base.
... The error by LF Nori Aoki was his first in 168 games, dating
back to May 9, 2014. The streak had been the longest among National
League outfielders. ... Cubs LF Kyle Schwarber batted leadoff for
the first time this season, replacing CF Dexter Fowler, who was out
of the starting lineup because of hand and shin injuries. Schwarber
went 2-for-4. ... Chicago C David Ross returned home and was placed
on the family medical emergency list. OF Matt Szczur was recalled
from Triple-A Iowa.
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reserved.]
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