Giants Rally Past O's; Davis Hits 42nd HR
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Hunter Pence hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning as San Francisco's stagnant lineup finally got to Wei-Yin Chen, and the Giants beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Saturday.
Chris Davis hit his majors-leading 42nd home run for the Orioles leading off the eighth against Santiago Casilla, then grounded out against closer Sergio Romo to end it with a runner on first.
Nick Markakis added three hits, but Baltimore had its three-game winning streak snapped on a day of missed opportunities.
Guillermo Moscoso (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the win.
The Orioles left the bases loaded in the second. Adam Jones hit a sacrifice fly in the third, but they stranded a runner at third. Baltimore squandered chances again in the sixth and eighth.
After Brandon Belt singled with two outs in the first, Chen (6-5) retired the next 13 batters before Andres Torres' leadoff single in the sixth. He was sacrificed to second and Marco Scutaro followed with a tying single. Belt doubled one out later and Buster Posey drew an intentional walk, bringing up Pence.
Belt, who has retooled his swing several times the past two seasons, had two hits. He homered in each of his previous two games.
Chad Gaudin struck out six in five innings for the Giants, working out of several jams. Casilla struck out Ryan Flaherty and pinch-hitter Matt Wieters with two runners on to end the eighth.
Romo earned his 27th save in 31 chances as the Giants won at AT&T Park for only the third time in their last 10 home games. They dropped the series opener in 10 innings Friday.
Posey, the reigning NL MVP and batting champion, started and caught in a day game after a night game -- not often his routine. Manager Bruce Bochy said the off-day Monday factored into the decision, as well as a recent day to rest.
NOTES: Orioles RHP Jason Hammel, who received a cortisone shot Friday for right forearm tightness, believes he will soon be ready to pitch again, though he isn't going to come off the disabled list Tuesday when eligible. Dr. James Andrews evaluated Hammel's MRI and agreed with the team's conclusion to do the injection. ... The Giants now lead the clubs' all-time series 6-5. ... Buck Showalter on J.J. Hardy's 20 home runs in three straight seasons: "I didn't realize how good he was, just because I didn't know him." ... The Giants improved to 16-22 vs. lefty starters. ... Baltimore is 13-7 against all California teams this year. ... RHP Matt Cain pitches the series finale Sunday for San Francisco against RHP Bud Norris.
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