Wade wallops winner

SF 6  OAK 5 (today)

The Giants were on the brink of losing their third straight game when LaMonte Wade, Jr., pinch-hitting in the 9th, launched a two-run homer to save the day. Jake McGee closed it and we had jubilation instead of despair. It was a massive comeback especially with the Dodgers winning nine straight and narrowing the gap in the West. Kevin Gausman had another rocky outing. He got hurt right away by poor fielding in the 1st but he wasn't sharp. I don't know what to think about Gausman, other than injury. He still has elite stuff but the command isn't there. The A's are like the Giants and know how to make a pitcher work.

Wade was pinch-hitting for Darin Ruf who had homered in the 7th and had walked twice including in front of Kris Bryant's 2nd inning homer. It's crazy to think about pinch-hitting for a guy like Ruf who had a great day at the plate and is slashing .277/.396/.559, but that's how the Giants roll. And that was Wade's first pinch-hit homer. The Giants are the best in baseball at pinch-hit homers. Speaking of homers Brandon Belt hit one in the 7th ahead of Ruf's and was walked in the 9th ahead of Ruf's spot, which featured Wade playing the hero today.

Great relief work from Jarlin Garcia in particular, plus Dominic Leone and Tyler Rogers, before McGee took the 9th. Logan Webb gets the start tomorrow afternoon (1:07 PT) for the series decider.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

p.s.  OAK 4  SF 1 (Friday's game)