By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Consecutive wins have the Giants looking like their old selves.

As in the 2021 version with the 107 wins, the record number of homers and late comebacks. It’s not a bad look.

After trailing 3-0, the Giants got a game-tying home run from Wilmer Flores in the eighth, and a game-winning RBI single from Brandon Crawford in the ninth to put the squeeze on the Diamondbacks in a 4-3 win.

The Giants have won four of five to stay within striking distance of the Phillies and Cardinals, the two teams ahead of them in the National League standings and the race for one of the three wild card spots.

“We’re getting back on track and these kinds of games can definitely help you pick up the momentum and carry into the next games, next series and rest of the year,” said Brandon Belt, who homered in the seventh to get the Giants their initial run. “I’ve seen it happen in our World Series years. I saw it last year with Atlanta. You just get momentum and a lot of crazy stuff happens.

“We battled and didn’t give up the entire game,” Belt continued. “To come back in the last inning and to see the whole team clicking a little bit, that’s the kind of baseball we have to play to win ballgames.”

The Giants employed their bullpen from the start in this one with John Brebbia opening, then giving way to Sam Long. But Long labored, allowing five hits and two walks, enough to stake the D’Backs to a 3-0 lead in the third inning. But four more relievers followed Long, allowing just two hits, and halting Arizona’s afternoon on the scoreboard.

Meanwhile, Gabe Kapler turned to his pinch-hitting game in the eighth and it paid off with Flores’ homer to tie it and a Darin Ruf single to chase reliever Joe Mantiply. Yermin Mercedes struck out and Luis Gonzalez grounded into a double play to end the inning, but the four, consecutive pinch-hitters got the game tied, and set up the Giants for their winning rally in the ninth.

Belt singled to leadoff the ninth against Mark Melancon, then Thairo Estrada struck out. Mike Yastrzemski doubled, moving Belt to third. And after David Villar drew a walk to load the bases, Crawford delivered the walk-off single.

The Giants conclude their first half of the season prior to the All-Star break with four home games against the NL Central-leading Brewers with the hope they can move closer to the Phillies, Cardinals, but the Padres and Brewers as well. Speculation that the Giants will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline has begun, but the suspense dissipates without the wins. Right now, the Giants are maintaining that suspense and trying to put a rough month of June behind them. Getting back to their situational game might be the trick, it was just that a season ago.

“Everyone knows how we play and everyone on the bench is always ready,” Flores said. “I was ready since the fourth inning.”

Giants’ All-Star Carlos Rodon gets the start on Thursday night in a matchup against Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes.