The Chicago Cubs Patrick Wisdom is enthusiastic after belting a two run second inning home run against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 6, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-With a chance of getting a sweep and gaining ground on the competition, neither happened for the San Francisco Giants.

Javier Baez reached on a fielders choice when Mauricio Dubons throw to home plate could not be handled by Buster Posey for an error that allowed Kyle Hendricks to score from third base, as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Giants 4-3 before a crowd of 14,021 at Oracle Park.

Hendricks helped out his own cause, as he doubled to lead off the inning against Johnny Cueto, went to third on an Anthony Rizzo single and after Kris Bryant struck out for the first out of the inning, then Ian Happ walked to load the bases and Baezs fielders choice allowed the eventual winning run. That would be the end of the line for Cueto, as he was replaced Conor Menez, who got of the jam, as he struck out Jason Heyward and Patrick Wisdom to end the inning.

Wisdom, who played his college ball across the Bay in Moraga at St. Marys College hit two more home runs today and three over the past two days.

Hendricks lasted 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out five and raised his record up to 7-4 on the season.

Cueto went 4.1 innings, giving up four runs (three runs) on six hits, walking two and striking out four and saw his record fall to 4-2 on the season.

Things were looking good for the Giants after the first pitch of the game in the bottom of the first inning, as LaMonte Wade, Jr., took the first pitch he saw from Hendricks and planted it into the left field bleachers for his third home run of the season.

Buster Posey then singled, and after Hendricks regrouped to get Alex Dickerson and Wilmer Flores, Steven Duggar walked and then Donovan Solano singled in Posey from second base, just beating the throw by Heyward.

Wisdom then hit his first home run of the game over the center field wall to get the Cubs on the board in the top of the second inning, much to the delight of the large contingent of Cubs fans that invaded Oracle Park.

Posey then picked up his second hit in as many at-bats in the bottom of the inning to drive in Dubon, who doubled to lead off the inning and went to third when Cueto grounded out to Eric Sogard at second base, who threw to Hendricks covering, as the ball got passed Rizzo at first base.

Dickerson then hit a single that went into centerfield, and like in the first inning, when Posey scored from second base, third base coach Ron Wotus sent Posey, who was thrown out at the plate by Happ and P.J. Higgins applied the tag to end the inning.

Happ led off the top of the third inning with a walk, and after Cueto was able to get Baez and Jason Heyward; however, Wisdom launched his second home run of the game over the center field wall.

Things got interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Dubon hit a high fly ball to left field that looked like it was going to tie the game; however, Bryant leaped to snare what would have been the game-tying home run off of Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel. After that, Kimbrel struck out both pinch hitter Jason Vosler and Wade, Jr., to pick up his 14th save of the season.

NOTES: Despite the loss, the Giants maintained their two-game lead in the National League West over the San Diego Padres and three game over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was discovered that Evan Longoria will miss four to six weeks with a right shoulder sprain that occurred when he collided with Brandon Crawford on Saturday in the top of the ninth inning. Longoria was placed on the 10-day disabled list, and Estrada was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, and made his Giants debut when he struck out against Kimbrel.

UP NEXT: After a day off on Monday, the Giants will begin a two-city, six-game road trip that begins in Arlington, Texas, where the Giants will send Alex Wood to the mound and the Rangers will send Jordan Lyles to the mound in the series opener and in the finale, Anthony DeSclafani will face Kyle Gordon.

Following the two-game series in Arlington, the Giants will travel to Washington, D.C., to face the Nationals beginning on Thursday night for a four-game set.