Giants rally in 7th inning to beat Phillies 5-4.
Giants first baseman hits three-run double in 7th, San Francisco holds on to top Philly
SAN FRANCISCO — Brandon Belt hit a three-run double in a four-run seventh inning Friday night to propel the Giants to a 54 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before a crowd of 42,238.
Belt’s big blow made a winner out of Jake Peavy (4-6), who gave up two runs in seven innings before giving way to the bullpen. Santiago Casilla got the last two outs for his 17th save and second in two days.
Casilla’s save wasn’t without drama, as he loaded the bases on a walk, a single and a hit bat-
ter before getting Tyler Goeddel on a slow chopper to third. Ramiro Peña, a defensive replacement, charged the ball and narrowly threw out Goeddel at first to stop the tying run from scoring.
“That game had about everything,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “We had some great at-bats on the road trip and tonight Belt came through for us.”
Angel Pagan, who had two RBIs, added what turned out to be a crucial run in the seventh with a two-out single to score Belt.
The Giants improved to 48-27 with the win and with the Dodgers losing to Pittsburgh, increased their lead in the National League West to seven games.
The Phillies, who had snapped a nine-game losing streak Thursday, fell to 31-44.
Relief pitcher Elvis Araujo (1-1) took the loss for Philadelphia.
Peavy gave up seven hits, walking two and striking out four, on 102 pitches, 67 of them strikes.
In the second inning, Peavy even made a kick save of a ground ball by Peter Bourjos, then got to the ball and threw him out at first base.
“That was vintage Jake, doing all he can to win a ballgame,” Bochy said.
Philadelphia scored twice against the Giants bullpen in the eighth inning on an opposite-field single by Freddy Galvis and a bases-loaded walk to Bourjos, both surrendered by setup man Cory Gearrin.
Gearrin followed Derek Law and Josh Osich, with each responsible for a baserunner that scored.
The Giants’ four-run seventh inning began with an infield single by Trevor Brown off reliever Severino Gonzalez, who came in relief of starter Zach Eflin.
Bochy sent in Jarrett Parker to hit, with the Phillies opting to go to the lefthanded Araujo. Bochy then pulled back Parker and instead sent up Buster Posey, who up to that point had the night off.
Posey responded with a sinking liner to center that Cesar Hernandez couldn’t catch on a dive, putting runners on first and second. Denard Span sacrificed the runners to second and third, with Joe Panik drawing a walk to load the bases to set the stage for Belt.
Belt responded with a towering drive to center field over Hernandez to bring home all three runs. Brandon Crawford was next, and his fly to center sent Belt to third for the second out.
Pagan followed with a single past shortstop to drive in Belt with the fourth run of the inning and a seemingly secure 5-2 lead.
The Giants opened the n scoring with an unearned run as Span reached on an error by Ryan Howard at first base, and two outs later advancing to third on a single by Crawford.
Span scored when Pagan beat out a chopper to shortstop for an infield single and an RBI.
Brown ended the second n and third innings by throwing out runners on the bases. In the second, with runners at first and second, Brown threw a strike to first to catch Galvis too far from the base. In the third, he threw out Odubel Herrera at second on a stolen base attempt.
Bochy said Casilla and n Gearrin, who both showed signs of wear as the Giants staggered to the finish, won’t pitch Saturday night when Madison Bumgarner (8-3) opposes Jeremy Hellickson (4-6).
Sergio Romo pitched n just one-third of an inning, giving up three hits and two earned runs in a rehab assignment in Triple-A Sacramento, but Bochy said the pitcher seemed healthy.
Matt Cain threw a 20pitch n bullpen session and may have another one Sunday, although Bochy said the Giants are in no rush to bring him back after a setback with his hamstring the last time he was activated.
“After he throws Sunday we’ll see where we’re at and make a call where he’s going to pitch, if he’s going to face hitters or pitch in a game,” Bochy said.