SAN FRANCISCO — It took another one-run win, but the Giants (48-27) capped a historical 40-game span on Friday night. With a 5-4 win against the Phillies (31-44), the Giants lifted their record to 31-9 over the last 40 games, tying the 1954 Giants for the franchise’s best record in a 40-game span.
It happened with the help of Brandon Belt’s late-inning heroics, and with seven strong innings from Jake Peavy (4-6, 5.22 ERA). Here’s more on Friday night at AT&T Park.
The big moment
The Giants are getting the big hit when they need it, and in the last two games, that’s come with the bases loaded. Joe Panik knocked in three runs on Thursday to push the Giants in front, and Belt did the same in the seventh inning on Friday.
He blasted a double off the warning track in right-center, scoring Trevor Brown, Buster Posey and Panik within about two seconds of each other. The Giants never let go of the lead.
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At the plate
Before stepping in against Zach Eflin, the Giants were hitting .329 and averaging nearly seven runs a game in their last 10 contests. That’s how you rattle off nine wins in your last 10 games. But then Giants hitters stepped in against Eflin, making only his third major league start.
He pierced through the Giants lineup through six innings, throwing the deepest he ever has in a game. Only one scored while Eflin was on the mound, and it wasn’t tacked to his record. Denard Span, who reached on a first-inning grounder muffed by Ryan Howard, scored when Angel Pagan reached on an infield single.
Eflin scattered four other baserunners in the next five innings before Pete Mackanin dipped into his bullpen. That’s when the game changed. Brown reached to start the inning, and Bochy called on Posey to pinch hit during his night off. He lined a single just off the glove of a diving Herrera in center field, and Panik walked to set up Belt’s bases-clearing clast.
Angel Pagan knocked a single to score the final run of the Giants four-run seventh inning.
On the mound
After a horrid beginning, Peavy’s turned his season around. He finished his first nine outings with an 8.21 ERA, but after allowing two runs over seven innings on Friday night, his ERA is down to 1.91 in his last six starts. He’s allowed more than two runs only once in that span.
He stranded a handful of runners over his first few innings with the help of Brown. The rookie catcher backpicked Galvis at first base to end the second inning, and threw out Herrera stealing an inning later.
The Phillies got to Peavy in the fourth inning, when Maikel Franco and Ryan Howard laced back-to-back doubles to tie the game. Peavy retired the next two hitters, but allowed the Phillies to go ahead an inning later when Peter Bourjos scored Galvis with an RBI single.
Peavy’s night ended on a high note, retiring pinch-hitter Jimmy Paredes and Herrera to end the seventh inning with a runner on third.
In the ‘pen
Right after taking a 5-2 lead, the bullpen carousel was in full effect during the eighth inning. Derek Law started the frame, and exited after allowing a one-out triple to Franco. Josh Osich entered and struck out left-hander Tommy Joseph before walking the next hitter.
Bochy then elevated his bullpen matchup game to the next level, yanking Osich in the middle of a plate appearance. Osich left the game inexplicably with a 2-1 count to Tyler Goeddel, and was replaced by Cory Gearrin.
Gearrin loaded the bases by finishing a walk to Goeddel, and allowed an RBI single Galvis. He let the Phillies creep within a run by walking Bourjos, but escaped the bases-loaded jam on his 13th pitch.
Javier Lopez and Santiago Casilla combined to close out the one-run victory, with Casilla nabbing save No. 17 after loading the bases with two outs. The game ended on a very brief replay review.
On deck
A lot of things have gone Madison Bumgarner’s (8-3, 1.85 ERA) way this year. Perhaps none more than his start on Saturday night, when he’ll face the Phillies on his scheduled bobblehead night. Of course, Bumgarner’s figurine is swinging a bat instead of pitching. He’ll step to the plate against Jeremy Hellickson (4-6, 4.41 ERA). First pitch at 7:05 p.m on KNBR 680.
