San Francisco Giants LaMonte Wade Jr (31) rounds first and looks back at first base coach Antoan Richardson (right) after hitting a third inning home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sun Jul 25, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-After losing the first two games of the series to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the San Francisco Giants got some big hits when it was needed the most.

LaMonte Wade, Jr., hit two home runs in his first two at-bats, helping the Giants to a 6-1 victory over the Pirates before a crowd of 30,303 at Oracle Park.

Wilmer Flores also went deep for the Giants, who have hit a major league leading 151 home runs on the season.

Alex Wood went 5.1 innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking two and striking out eight on his way to ninth win of the season for the Giants.

The Pirates got to Wood in the top of the first inning, as Bryan Reynolds singled with two outs and then John Nogowski followed that up with a double that easily scored Reynolds that gave the Pirates the lead before the Giants first appearance at the plate.

That lead lasted one batter into the bottom of the first inning, as Wade, Jr., hit a JT Brubaker pitch into the centerfield seats to tie up the game at one.

Wade, Jr., gave the Giants the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning, as he launched his second home run in as many at-bats and his 12th of the season. It was the first multi-home run game of Wades career.

Wade ended up going 3-for-5 on the afternoon, as he also added a double in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Giants broke the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Giants scored three runs and Flores got it started when he lined a Duane Underwood, Jr., pitch down the left field line and over the 339 mark to extend the lead up to 4-1. Steven Duggar then followed it up with a double, and then Thairo Estrada singled, which sent Duggar to third base.

When Estrada stole second base, the throw by Jacob Stallings sailed into centerfield that allowed Duggar to score from third base and Estrada moved up to third base.

Estrada then scored the final run of the inning, when Curt Casali singled with one out.

Nick Mears gave the fourth home run of the afternoon, as Estrada hit his third home run of the season, just over the outstretched glove of Reynolds in centerfield.

The Giants bullpen of Jay Jackson, Jarlin Garcia, Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee pitched a perfect final 3.2 innings, where the quartet did not allow a baserunner to reach base.

Jackson came up with the biggest stop of the game in the top of the sixth inning, as Wood loaded the bases with one out; however, Jackson came on to get Kevin Newman to ground into a double play that ended the inning and the threat.

Adam Frazier was replaced at second base by Wilmer Difo in the bottom of the eighth inning, and then it was learned that Frazier along with cash was traded to the San Diego Padres for Michael Milliano, Jack Suwinski and Tucupita Marcano.

NOTES: With four more home runs on Sunday, the Giants have now hit 151 home runs on the season, passing the Toronto Blue Jays for the most home runs in Major League Baseball during the 2021 season.

Eight different players have reached the double figures in home runs this season for the Giants, and two players have nine home runs. The eight players are: Brandon Crawford, Mike Yastrzemski, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Flores, Darin Ruf, Alex Dickerson and Wade, Jr., while both Evan Longoria and Austin Slater each have nine home runs.

The Giants record for most players in double figures in home runs in a season is nine, which was accomplished in 1952, 1958, 1987 and 2000.

Following a loss, the Giants are now 25-12 and 62-37 overall, the best in the majors on both records

Al Michaels, who broadcasted games for the Giants in 1974 was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame earlier today as the 45th winner of the Ford C. Frick Award.

UP NEXT: After an off-day on Monday, the Giants will begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, when Logan Webb will take the mound for the Giants, while Julio Urias will take the mound for the Dodgers.