SAN FRANCISCO — What a difference an inning makes.
Through five innings in the Giants’ series finale with the Miami Marlins, Marlins starter Jose Urena was cruising. The righty had Giants hitters thoroughly flummoxed, holding them to just four hits and no runs.
In the sixth, however, the Giants’ offense broke through, knocking Urena out of the game with a 5-spot and finally providing Derek Holland the run support he deserved, keying a 6-5 win.
The Marlins started the game’s scoring in the second when Miguel Rojas’ bloop single scored Cameron Maybin, who had reached on a leadoff double.
But the Giants answered back with force in the sixth. Kelby Tomlinson, who replaced the injured Alen Hanson, drew a leadoff walk, and Joe Panik moved him to second on a single. Brandon Belt then ground-rule doubled to left to score Tomlinson. After a Nick Hundley strikeout, Mac Williamson scored Panik on a fielder’s choice.
But the most surprising hit of the inning came from Hunter Pence. Pence, who entered the game hitting well under .200 and with just 5 RBI in 31 games in 2018, blooped a single to right to score Belt and move Williamson to third, eliciting raucous cheers from the AT&T Park crowd. With Gorkys Hernandez batting, Pence stole second uncontested, and Hernandez took advantage of the steal, scoring both Williamson and Pence with a single to right to put the Giants up 5-1.
The Marlins got two back in the seventh off a fading Holland, but no more. Pence added another RBI single in the eighth.
Newly minted closer Sam Dyson struggled in the ninth, conceding two runs and allowing Brian Anderson to reach second with the score at 6-5. With two out, manager Bruce Bochy removed Dyson in favor of Reyes Moronta, who struck out J.B. Shuck to end the game.
Holland was stellar, throwing six-plus innings and only allowing the one run until the seventh, keeping the Giants neck-and-neck with the Marlins despite Urena’s early dominance and setting the stage for the offensive breakthrough that followed.
Hanson left the game after fouling a ball off his left knee and right ankle in the first. The club described his injury as a left knee contusion and his status is uncertain for Thursday’s game against Arizona.