Wednesday’s Game: Giants beat Rockies to take lead in NL wild-card race,
SAN FRANCISCO » Mauricio Dubón hit a three-run homer off reliever Yency Almonte in the fifth inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 7-2 on Wednesday night to move barely in front in a crowded NL wild- card race.
Evan Longoria also went deep for San Francisco. Brandon Belt added three hits and walked twice.
Logan Webb (3- 4) allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings to win in his first career appearance as a reliever.
The Giants (28-27) have won three of four and are percentage points ahead of Cincinnati for the first of two NL wild cards. The Reds (29-28) won earlier against Milwaukee (27-28), another close contender.
“Being in this clubhouse is really fun,” Dubón said. “You’re playing meaningful baseball and every hit, every run, every home run, every catch you make counts. That’s the fun part of it.”
RaimelTapiahad two hits and an RBI for Colorado.
Dubón’s homer on Almonte’s second pitch came just after Rockies manager Bud Black pulled starter Ryan Castellani following walks to Belt and Longoria. It was Dubon’s third home run this season and the seventh of his career.
“It was a huge confidence boost for him because he has been hitting some balls on the button that haven’t left the ballpark,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “That confidence spilled over into the dugout. It was one of themore excitingmoments of the last couple weeks.”
LongoriahomeredoffCastellani leading off the fourth to snap an 0-for-16 slide.
Webb pitched in relief after the Giants used an opener for the first time this season. Caleb Baragar, who is 5-1 coming out of the bullpen, retired three batters and left after allowing Charlie Blackmon’s double leading off the second.
“I can’t remember the last time I came in with somebody on base,” Webb said. “Itwas funout there. I don’t know if that changed necessarily the game plan or the mindset of that. It was my first time experiencing that anditwas cool.”
Webb gave up an RBI single to Trevor Story in the third and Tapia’s RBI double over the outstretched glove of left fielder Alex Dickerson in the fifth.
Kapler felt using an opener helped get Webb locked in more easily.
“I think it dida lot for his mindset,” Kapler said. “After Baragar set the tone for us by pounding the strike zone, Loganwas able to see how important it was to attack the strike zone. He was comfortable inducing contact, and some of that contact was hard. That’s OK. But I think what allowed him to be efficient was his willingness to live with that contact.”