Giants beat Cubs 4-2 thanks to bats of Estrada, Flores
CHICAGO (CBS SF/AP) — Thairo Estrada homered in the seventh, Wilmer Flores connected in the eighth and the San Francisco Giants held on to beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on Sunday night.
The Giants kept the Cubs' offense in check while using six pitchers on a bullpen day, though Zach McKinstry had four hits for the Cubs, who have dropped 15 of 21.
"It's really good to get that win tonight," catcher Joey Bart said. "It's going to be a long night home, but it's going to be a lot better with a win."
Estrada, Evan Longoria and Austin Dean had two hits each for the Giants, who had lost five of six.
Flores hit a two-run shot off Hayden Wesneski (1-1) after Lewis Brinson walked for his 18th homer of the season, matching a career high and snapping an 0-for-19 skid.
Estrada led off the seventh with his 13th of the season. The homer ended Wesneski's streak of six scoreless innings to begin his major league career.
Seiya Suzuki homered off Scott Alexander in the eighth to pull the Cubs within 4-2.
"The consistency he's produced for us for a month-plus now has been really solid," manager David Ross said of Suzuki. "I think this is the player we thought he was."
Left-handed starter Wade Miley gave up a run and four hits, struck out five and walked one in five innings for the Cubs. It was his second outing after missing three months with a shoulder injury.
"It's huge for me to prove that I'm healthy and I can still compete at a high level," Miley said. "Obviously, every time I go out I want to give us a chance to win and keep our team in the game. Selfishly, it's very important I can prove I can still pitch here."
Zack Littell (3-3) threw 1 2/3 shutout innings to earn the victory. Camilo Doval worked around a hit batter and a triple in the ninth, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings for his 22nd save.
"I just told him I wanted him to pick the pace up a little bit and just let it go, throw everything for a strike," Bart said of his mound visit.
"I told him after the game, 'Saves pay a lot of money, man. You want that ball and you want that save at that time,' " Bart added.
John Brebbia allowed a hit in a scoreless first inning as the Giants opener. San Francisco relied on its bullpen to fill in for Alex Wood, who went on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder injury on Sept. 3.
"Our bullpen overall did a nice job of attacking the zone," Giants manager Gabe Kapler said.
J.D. Davis doubled off Miley and scored on Estrada's two-out single for a 1-0 Giants lead in the fourth.
The Cubs tied it in the fifth. McKinstry doubled off Yunior Marte and scored when Rafael Ortega singled and advanced on right fielder Luis González's fielding error.