The San Francisco Giants LaMonte Wade (31) is congratulated by third base coach Ron Wotus after hitting a fourth inning solo home run against pitcher Jake Arrieta and the Cubs at Oracle Park in San Francisco Fri Jun 4, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

After falling behind to the Chicago Cubs, the San Francisco Giants came back to take a lead that they would never relinquish.

Steven Duggar hit a two-run home run and then Alex Dickerson would add a three-run home run in a six-run second inning, as the Giants made it two in a row with a 8-5 victory over the Cubs at Oracle Park.

Duggar gave the Giants the lead for good in that six-run inning, as he hit tied his career high with his fourth home run of the season for the Giants, as he gave them a 3-2 lead. Jake Arrieta then allowed a single to Donovan Solano and then walked, and Arrieta got the next two batters, Dickerson launched a full count Arrieta offering onto the arcade to give the Giants a big six-run inning.

“We’re competitive. We believe that we can really push and win the (NL) West,” Dickerson said. “That’s been our goal from the start and we never thought it was ridiculous to say that. We plan on being there all year.”

The Cubs took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Kris Bryant hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, as he hit his 13th home run of the season.

“When you go down 2-0 against a team like the Cubs you know it’s going to be a bit of a fight, you know you’re going to have to score some runs,” said Gabe Kapler. “We’ve been stinging together good at-bats up and down the lineup for some time now.”

Scott Kazmir, who made his return to the starting rotation after being out due to a personal matter allowed the two-run home run to Bryant.

Kazmir was making his third start of the season after being out of major league baseball for the past few years, and went two innings, allowing two runs on three hits, not allowing a walk and striking out three.

After the Giants would take that 6-2 lead, former Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Joc Pederson, who grew up in Palo Alto continues to be an enemy of the Giants and their fans, as he hit a two-run home run to cut the Giants lead down to 6-4 in the top of the fourth inning.

That would be the score for a half-inning, as Jason Vosler, who was drafted by the Cubs came back to haunt his former organization, as he hit his second home run of his short career and hit first pinch-hit home run to give the Giants a 7-4 lead. Arrieta then gave his fourth home run of the game, as LaMonte Wade, Jr., made it back-to-back home runs for the Giants, who have now won two in a row and eight out of their last 10.

This was the fourth time this season that the Giants have hit four home runs, as they continue to lead the National League West by one game over the San Diego Padres and two over the defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Not only due to the Giants continue to be the surprise of the major leagues, as they have the best record in the major leagues at the present time.

On the other side of things, the Cubs continue to lead the National League Central and lost back-to-back games for the first time since May 9-12 when they lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians.

Conor Menez, the third of five Giants relievers who would go to the mound picked up his first win of the season, as he went two perfect innings to get the win. Tyler Rogers came out of the bullpen as the closer, as he pitched the ninth inning to secure his seventh save of the season.

Arrieta fell to 5-6 on the season, as he gave up six runs and six hits in two innings, as he walked two and struck out one and gave up two home runs.

NOTES: To make room for Kazmir on the roster, Nick Tropeano, who optioned to Sacramento after Thursday nights win was designated for assignment to clear room for Kazmir.

Brandon Crawford played his 1,324th career game at shortstop, coming within two of passing Travis Jackson for the most games ever by a shortstop in Giants history.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman looks for his seventh win of the season, as he takes the mound for the Giants on Saturday afternoon, while Kole Stewart makes the start for the Cubs.