Blach helps Giants snap 4-game skid with 6-3 win over Braves
SAN FRANCISCO — Ty Blach is making the most of his opportunity in San Francisco’s rotation after ace Madison Bumgarner went down with an injury.
Blach pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning and gave San Francisco’s struggling offense a boost with an RBI single during a three-run fourth that helped the Giants snap a four-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night.
After starting the season in the bullpen, Blach (3-2) moved into the rotation in late April after Bumgarner got hurt in a dirt bike accident in Colorado.
“Because of what happened he’s in the rotation,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s taking full advantage of it. He can pitch. ... I’m not surprised by what he’s doing.”
Outside of one clunker in Cincinnati when he allowed eight runs in three innings, Blach has given the Giants a chance to win in his other six starts, allowing three or fewer runs in each of them.
Blach struck out four of the first eight batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. He allowed six hits and two runs in 7 2-3 innings and didn’t allow a runner to reach third until the eighth when Atlanta scored twice to end his night.
“He’s got a decent arsenal,” Braves catcher Tyler Flowers said. “It seemed like he had pretty good command today too.”
“He made big pitches when guys did get on and got double plays and stuff to shut down any rallies. He threw that ball well.”
Nick Hundley homered and drove in three runs and Brandon Belt added a solo shot against Mike Foltynewicz (35) as the Giants’ bats broke out after being held to six runs during the fourgame skid.
Derek Law got the final out in the eighth and Mark Melancon got two outs for his 10th save in 12 chances.
Hundley, getting the start behind the plate to give Buster Posey a rest, opened the scoring with his first homer of the season in the second.
“That gives us a lot of confidence as a pitcher,” Blach said. “If you can keep the momentum on your side and get a zero, things can start going pretty good.”
LOSS