Pinch hit home run by Dickerson gives Giants huge win 5-2

Alex Dickerson’s pinch hit home run in the bottom of the seventh inning got the Giants the eventual win as Colorado Rockies pitcher Jario Diaz just can’t look on Tue Sep 22, 2020 game at Oracle Park in San Francisco (photo from sfchronicle.com)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Alex Dickerson came up with the biggest hit of the night at the most opportune time.

Dickerson came off the bench to hit a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the seventh inning and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-2 at Oracle Park.

The Dickerson home run was his 10th of the season, and he is now 14-for-29 against the Rockies this season with four doubles, six home runs and 10 runs batted in.

With the victory, the Giants are now in a three-way tie in the wild card with the Cincinnati Reds, who lost to the Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies, who were swept in a doubleheader against the defending World Champion Washington Nationals.

Austin Slater got the Giants on the board in a hurry, as he took a Kyle Freeland pitch into the left field bleachers in the bottom of the first inning to give the Giants a quick 1-0 lead.

It was the first career leadoff home run for Slater and his fifth home run of the season, as the Giants try and clinch one of the two wild card playoff spots in the 2020 MLB Postseason.

With the victory over the Rockies, coupled with the Philadelphia Phillies being swept in a doubleheader by the defending World Champion Washington Nationals and the Cincinnati Reds losing to the Milwaukee Brewers, all three teams are at the .500 mark.

Joey Bart gave the Giants that all important second run of the game, as he doubled over the head of former Giants centerfielder Kevin Pillar to score Daniel Robertson in the bottom of the fifth inning.

That Bart RBI double was huge, as just one-half inning in the top of the sixth inning, Charlie Blackmon pulled the Rockies within one run, as he grounded into a force play that scored Pillar from third base.

Drew Smyly went 5.1 innings, allowing just one run, while scattering four hits, walking two and striking out five

Freeland pitched an admirable game for the Rockies, as he went six strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking three and striking out just one.

Robertson, who is usually an infielder came up with the defensive play of the night from left field, as he threw Garrett Hampson out at second base, as he tried to stretch a single into a double.

That play by Robertson was huge, as Raimel Tapia singled two batters later and then Pillar tied up the game, when he doubled off the left field wall to score Tapia.

Robertson, who started the game at shortstop was forced to move to left field after Luis Alexander Basabe was forced to leave the game in the top of the fourth inning due to an apparent leg injury.

Bart came up with his second double of the night in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he was one of two Giants players to have multiple hits against Rockies pitching. Slater, who led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run, hit an infield single that sent Bart to third base.

The Dickerson home run made a winner out of Tyler Rogers, who gave up the game-tying double to former teammate Pillar just one-half inning earlier.

Brandon Belt broke the game open, as he came off the bench to pinch hit for Wilmer Flores and hit a two-run double that scored Bart and Slater.

Sam Coonrod pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his third save of the season, as he struck out two, including the last pitch to Tapia that was clocked at 100 miles per hour.

NOTES: Prior to tonight’s game, Chadwick Tromp was placed on the 10-Day IL with a right shoulder strain and Tyler Heineman was recalled from the Alternate Training Site.

On this date in 1969, Willie Mays hit his 600th career home run off of Mike Corkins of the San Diego Padres and it ended up being the game-winner, as the Giants defeated the Padres 4-2 at San Diego Stadium.

UP NEXT: Ryan Castellani will take the mound for the Rockies on Wednesday night, while the Giants have yet to name a starter.

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