Belt, Ruggiano power Giants to a 3-1 victory
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants needed a lengthy outing from Matt Moore, and he delivered.
Moore pitched into the eighth inning, Brandon Belt and Justin Ruggiano homered and the Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 on Saturday in a matchup of weary teams.
San Francisco and Cincinnati had a quick turnaround after they played 17 innings Friday night, with the Giants winning 3-2 on Buster Posey's game-ending homer.
Moore (2-4) provided a lift with 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball. He allowed eight hits, struck out seven and walked three.
"It was really needed for us for him to get us deep in the game," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He really gave us a little more than I thought, to be honest."
The last-place Giants (14-24) won consecutive games for just the second time this season. They have won three of four overall.
"You've got to start somewhere," Bochy said. "We're trying to look at the positive signs here. It's good to get a couple in a row against a team that was really tough at their ballpark."
Scott Schebler homered for Cincinnati, which swept a three-game series against San Francisco last weekend. Lisalverto Bonilla (0-1) pitched a six-hitter for his first career complete game.
The Giants jumped in front on Belt's long drive in the first inning. Belt's second homer of the series and No. 6 on the year sailed into the San Francisco Bay for his sixth career "splash hit."
Ruggiano connected in the second for his first homer with the Giants. Schebler went deep in the sixth, but the Reds were 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
"The last couple of games we haven't been able to deliver those big hits," Reds manager Bryan Price said.
"We had a lot of opportunities to end last night's game before the 17th. They pitched us tough just like we pitched them tough. Neither team could come up with the big hits to get that create separation."
Derek Law pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his third save in four tries.