© Kiel Maddox | USA Today
SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants were in desperate need for an offensive improvement Sunday afternoon, and they got it. The Giants beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5 to avoid a four-game sweep, racking up at least 13 hits for the 13th time this season. The Giants had scored an average of 2.25 runs per game on the four-game losing streak which preceded it.
The run brigade started in the third inning, thanks to a bases-clearing double from catcher Buster Posey with the fourth pitch of his at-bat. Austin Slater – who played at both first base and left field as substitute in the game because of injuries to Pablo Sandoval and Andrew McCutchen – said the dugout was abuzz when Posey cleared the bases.
“It was electric,” Slater said. “That was a big turning point for us in the game, momentum-wise. He’s clutch and that’s what he does.”
Slater had his own clutch moment in the game, making a ranging catch at first base over a guardrail and then doubling up Christian Yelich at first base. After Yelich was initially called safe, the play was challenged by bench coach Hensley Meulens, who was filling in for manager Bruce Bochy while he attended Trevor Hoffman’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“At first I thought it was way in the stands, but it kind of drifted back and I was able to reach over and grab it,” Slater said. And then Sammy was standing right there, so I just tried to throw a little dart to him.”
Slater had a hunch the play would be overturned after talking to Yelich.
“I knew it was bang-bang,” Slater said. “I didn’t know if he kept his foot on the bag or not because I know he did a little toe-drag, a little fancy footwork. But talking to Yelich, he was like, ‘Yeah, I think I stepped on his foot, I think he got me.’”
After the Giants’ struggles recently, Slater – who hit single in his first at-bat – said he was happy to be a part offensive outburst.
“It was great,” Slater said. “The energy in the dugout was great even when we went down early. You never want to see one of your teammates go down, but to be able to come in and contribute was awesome and I’m glad we got a lot of runs for Andy, because that hasn’t really been the MO lately for us and it was nice to break out of that and win a ballgame.”
