Bochy’s hunch pays off as Giants top Reds

A’s Piscotty homers in first at-bat after mother’s funeral

SAN FRANCISCO (TNS) – With the help of a stout bullpen and a bold move by manager Bruce Bochy, the Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 Tuesday night before a crowd of 37,809 at AT&T Park.

Trailing 3-0, the Giants chased Cincinnati starter Tyler Mahle in a fifth inning during which a hunch by Bochy paid off in a big way during a four-run uprising.

Belt opened the inning with a solo home run to right field, his eighth of the season and second in two nights.

Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford and Austin Jackson all followed with singles to load the bases. Longoria considered trying to score on Jackson’s hit to right fielder Scott Schebler, but he put on the brakes as the throw arrived to catcher Tony Cruz. Cruz’s throw to third was fraction late to get Longoria.

After Kelby Tomlinson struck out for the first out, Bochy yanked starter Ty

Bay Area News Group The San Francisco Giants’ Pablo Sandoval hits a two-run single during the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds at AT&T Park in San Francisco. The Giants won 5-3.

Blach in favor of pinchhitter Pablo Sandoval with the bases loaded. Blach, up to that point, had given up one earned run and looked to have at least an inning or two left.

Sandoval made Bochy look smart by grounding an opposite-field two-run single past Eugenio Suarez to tie the score 3-3.

The Giants added a fourth-run when Andrew Mccutchen’s ground ball to third drove in Jackson with the fourth run, with Mccutchen’s hustle down the line avoiding an inning-ending

double play.

Cincinnati got a pair of unearned runs against Blach in the third inning and made it 3-0 in the fourth when Billy Hamilton hit a two-out flare to right center.

After Blach departed, relievers Pierce Johnson, Will Smith, Sam Dyson, Tony Watson and Hunter Strickland each threw a scoreless inning to get the Giants over .500 at 22-21. Johnson got the win with a scoreless fifth, improving his record to 2-1. Strickland’s save was his ninth of the season.

A’s 5, Red Sox 3 BOSTON – Stephen Piscotty crushed an 0-2 pitch from Eduardo Rodriguez over the green monster that landed on Lansdowne Street, completely out of Fenway Park. As he approached home plate after rounding the bases, he patted his chest three times and looked up toward the sky – it was as if Gretchen was watching.

Piscotty arrived to the A’s clubhouse Tuesday afternoon after spending the past four days with his family following the death of his mother, Gretchen, May 6 after a long battle with ALS. Her funeral services were held Monday in Livermore.

It was his first at-bat off the bereavement list and third home run of the season, coming in the second inning to extend Oakland’s lead to 3-0 at the time in an eventual 5-3 victory Tuesday night. Piscotty finished 1 for 4 on the night.

“It was pure joy. It’s been an emotional week,” Piscotty said. “I’ve been a little cried out so I didn’t tear up or anything. Just felt real good knowing that my family was watching and my Mom was watching.”