© Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — Trailing the visiting Cincinnati Reds 3-0, the Giants produced a four-run fourth inning to gain the advantage they would not surrender. San Francisco added another run in the 8th inning to extend the lead.
The Giants prevailed 5-3 Tuesday night, marking their third straight win after a six-game losing skid.
Brandon Belt started the scoring with a homer to right field, resulting in his eighth ‘splash hit,’ tied with Pablo Sandoval for the second-most of all-time behind Barry Bonds’ 35. Belt continues to steadily ascend from the plate, now hitting .298 with a .405 on-base percentage.
Brandon Crawford, Evan Longoria, and Austin Jackson followed Belt’s homer with three consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs. Pinch-hitting Pablo Sandoval later hit a two-run RBI single to tie the score at 3. Andrew McCutchen grounded into a fielder’s choice to plate San Francisco’s fourth run of the inning, giving the Giants the lead.
The Giants pitching staff turned in a complete effort Tuesday night. Ty Blach posted four solid innings to start, allowed one earned run and five hits. The Reds shot out to a 2-0 lead when Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run homer after a Kelby Tomlinson error.
Bruce Bochy summoned five Giants relievers in the final five innings— no runs allowed.
Meanwhile, the Giants bats have started to wake up recently. They had 10 hits Tuesday after compiling 14 and 13 in each of the previous two games, both of which resulted in wins.
After a quiet first month, Brandon Crawford is scorching. His 4-4 performance continued his hot May, hitting .436 with 12 RBI in 13 games. Crawford entered May with a .189 average. He is now hitting .290.
Every Giants starter aside from McCutchen, who made hard contact and compiled that fourth-inning RBI, recorded a hit. This looks like a lineup that is starting to heat up, with five consecutive home games forthcoming.
The Giants will go for a fourth straight win and series sweep against the Reds Wednesday afternoon.