Giants Snap 6-Game Losing Streak With Win Over Pirates
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- Reliever Jean Machi and the San Francisco Giants took advantage of a huge baserunning blunder by Pittsburgh, tagging out two runners who wandered away on the same play and beating the Pirates 7-5 Wednesday to end a six-game losing streak.
San Francisco stopped a skid that matched its longest of the season, and avoided the club's first winless homestand of at least seven games in the 15-year history of AT&T Park.
The Pirates, who had won three in a row, led 5-4 in the sixth when Chris Stewart drew a one-out walk with runners on second and third.
Machi (6-0) got the ball back from the catcher and noticed Travis Snider had left second base, apparently thinking it was a bases-loaded walk. Machi threw to shortstop Brandon Crawford to trap Snider. Crawford returned the ball to Machi, who fired to third baseman Pablo Sandoval to get Gaby Sanchez as he strayed off the bag.
Gregor Blanco hit a tying single in the seventh, and a passed ball by Stewart later in the inning put the Giants ahead. Justin Wilson (3-2) took the loss.
Santiago Casilla, San Francisco's fifth reliever after Tim Lincecum's short start, earned his eighth save in 11 chances.
Jordy Mercer hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Josh Harrison also connected for the Pirates.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy met with slumping Crawford before the game about tweaking his hitting mechanics, then moved him up to the No. 2 hole. Crawford's single started a three-run first.
Bochy joked before the game about his team practicing getting hit by pitches, then Blanco was plunked when San Francisco took a 4-3 lead in the third. The Giants' runs were more than the six they had total in the previous six games.
TRAINER'S ROOM:
Pirates: Outfielder Starling Marte needs more time to recover on the concussion list and wasn't activated Wednesday when eligible. He went through his first full workout Tuesday, then had a recovery day Wednesday. He is likely to need a rehab assignment.
Giants: Bochy is optimistic of getting first baseman Brandon Belt back from a concussion as soon as this weekend against the Mets in New York, while center fielder Angel Pagan could play in a rehab game in the next couple of days in Arizona as he returns from an inflamed back. Right-hander Matt Cain was being re-evaluated Wednesday as he tries to recover from an elbow injury in his throwing arm.
ON DECK: Jeff Locke (2-2) starts Thursday night at Arizona.
Giants: Ryan Vogelsong (5-8) pitches Friday night vs. the Mets at Citi Field to start an 11-day, 10-game road trip.
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