San Francisco Giants third baseman and centerfielder Kris Bryant hit for two doubles on Thu Aug 5, 2021 at Chase Field in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks which led to four runs in the ninth and a run in the tenth for a comeback win (photo from USA Today)

By Jessica Kwong

At Chase Field on Thursday afternoon, the San Francisco Giants (69-40) were scoreless and trailed the Arizona Diamondbacks (34-76) by four in the ninth inning. They mustered up four runs, tying the game and winning in a remarkable 5-4 comeback in the tenth inning.

The last time that San Francisco won a game when trailing in the ninth inning by four or more runs was when some of the best to every play the game, Barry Bonds, Will Clark and Matt Williams, were in the lineup.

In the ninth, the first five Giants hitters reached against relievers Taylor Clarke and Tyler Clippard. Then LaMonte Wade Jr. finished turning things around for San Francisco with a two-out, two-strike, single to tie the game.

Giants third baseman Kris Bryant, who was responsible for the game-wing RBI, said, “We had no business winning that game.”

“Their starter really shut us down for what looked like could have been nine innings,” Bryant said. “But I’ve been a part of a few teams that do well later in the game with their backs against the wall and this team definitely has it.”

At the start of the ninth, Bryant, Brandon Crawford and Alex Dickerson chased Clarke from the game with three consecutive hits. Clippard stepped up and Donovan Solano and Brandon Belt contributed a hit and a single.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said, “for most of the game, we didn’t see that strength, that relentlessness.”

“But all it takes is one inning,” he said. “We always talk about how important the big inning is and that really is about grinding out one at-bat after the other and we saw a lot of those late in the game.”

With Thursday’s victory, the Giants improved to 69-40 at the top of the NL West, four games ahead of the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers and seven-and-a-half games over the San Diego Padres.

The Giants start a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday. First pitch is at 5:10 p.m.

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