SF Giants Survive Scare, Salvage Split with Extra-Inning Getaway Win

The SF Giants were able to avoid losing another series, as they survived a massive scare to beat the Brewers 9-5 in 10 innings in the series finale in Milwaukee this afternoon.

Like the previous three games in this series, the Brewers struck first, as Domingo Santana singled in Eric Sogard with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Giants struck right back in the second inning, when Nick Hundley knocked in Brandon Belt with a ground out to third.

Joe Panik hit his third home run of the season to give the Giants the lead in the top of the third, but Eric Thames hit a blast of his own in the bottom of the third to tie the game. Then came the fourth, and Austin Slater hit his first big league home run, which was measured at 461 feet. Slater’s blast gave the Giants their second lead of the game.

The Brewers tied the game again in the fifth. With Jett Bandy up and two outs, Chris Shaw attempted to steal third, and Nick Hundley’s throw sailed into left field, which allowed Shaw to score easily.

The Giants then struck right back in the sixth. Aaron Hill, who hit what ended up being the game-winning double on Monday, doubled into right-center field after Austin Slater took off from first. Slater scored, and the Giants took the lead. Eduardo Nunez singled in Hill for an insurance run, which gave the Giants a 5-3 lead.

However, the Giants’ bullpen struck again in the bottom of the ninth. Mark Melcanon came into the game, and things with south right away.

Sogard led off the inning with a home run, Eric Thames turned an 0-2 count into a walk, and Jesus Aguilar his a ground-rule double to left. The ball was struck underneath the wall in left, and per ballpark rules, Thames was not allowed to score. Thames would score on a single by Travis Shaw to tie the game. For Melancon, it was his third blown save of the season.

The Brewers had runners at first and third with nobody out, but Melancon got the first out after he got Domingo Santana to strike out to end a lengthy at-bat. Bandy nearly won the game on a line drive, but Nunez leapt at third to take away the hit for the second out, and Hernan Perez grounded out to first to send the game to extra innings.

Melancon’s houdini act proved to be a massive shot in the arm for the Giants, as they wasted no time in the top of the 10th. Jacob Barnes came in to pitch for the Brewers, and Gorkys Hernandez led off the inning with a single, his third hit of the game. Kelby Tomlinson singled Hernandez to third, and Hunter Pence hit a pinch-hit single to give the Giants the lead.

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The Giants weren’t finished yet. Denard Span doubled in Tomlinson, and Nunez singled in Pence on a ball that left-fielder Eric Thames lost in the sun. Span would score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Joe Panik.

The Giants had a 9-5 lead, but the Brewers wouldn’t go down quietly against Derek Law. Orlando Arcia reached on a dribbler, and Sogard singled, but Thames grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to finally end the game.

Despite his mess, Mark Melancon got his first win as a Giant. Johnny Cueto was unable to get his ninth-straight win, which he almost got, despite the absence of his changeup. Jacob Barnes got his first loss of the season.

The Giants improved to 25-37, as they completed a 3-4 roadtrip. They will return home to begin a five-game all-interleague homestand against the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals.

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The Twins will be in tomorrow night to start a three-game series, and the Giants will have their hands full against Ervin Santana. Matt Moore will take the ball for the Giants. First pitch will be at 7:15 p.m. PDT.

The SF Giants were able to avoid losing another series, as they survived a massive scare to beat the Brewers 9-5 in 10 innings in the series finale in Milwaukee this afternoon.

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