San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores, center, celebrates with Michael Conforto (8) after hitting a home run as Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado kneels behind home plate during the ninth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Wed May 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

Giants Win Series Over Houston 4-2

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (13-17) finished up their three game series in Houston taking two out of three from the Houston Astros (16-15) at Minute Maid Field winning 4-2. Two exceptional pitchers pitched on the mound in this game. The Giants sent Logan Webb and the Astros gave Framber Valdez the nod.

Wednesday matinee recap: The game was scoreless through five innings. As expected a real pitchers duel was underway. There was a lot of hard contact and a lot of ground balls. Both aces were having terrific games.

The Giants were first on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. Austin Slater singled Joey Webb home for the 1-0 lead. In the same inning Mitch Haniger singled and Thairo Estrada scored extending the San Francisco lead 2-0.

There was a pitching change for Houston in the seventh inning. Relief pitcher Phil Maton would take over on the mound. He did give up a hit in the inning; Joey Bart doubled and Michael Conforto, who had been hit by a pitch scored. San Francisco had a 3-0 lead going into the eighth inning.

Logan Webb took the Giants into the eighth with 90 plus pitches. He gave up a Martin Maldonado single. Whether or not fatigue entered into the equation, Webb gave up a home run to Alex Bregman and with a runner on base this became a one run game 3-2. Scott Alexander would come in to relieve Webb. He got the Giants out of the inning and it was on to the ninth.

The Giants Wilmer Flores came to the plate hitless for the day. He got a huge hit in the ninth inning, a solo home run giving San Francisco a 4-2 lead and a little cushion going into the bottom of the ninth. This was his fifth home run of the year.

The Giants were three outs away from a series win in the bottom of the ninth as relief pitcher Camilo Doval would try to put this game away. The lead off hitter walked and with one out Doval threw a wild pitch and Houston had a runner on second. Jeremy Pena and Jake Meyers both grounded out and that was the ballgame 4-2.

The Giants got a series win over one of the best teams in baseball. It will be a happy flight home for the team as they look ahead to a series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Thursday the Giants have the day off before their Friday night start against Milwaukee at Oracle Park. Neither the Brewers or Giants have announced a starter at press time for Friday night.