San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb winds up to deliver during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis on Tue May 23, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After beating the Minnesota Twins (25-24) 4-1 in game one of their series on Monday night, the San Francisco Giants (24-24) picked up their second win Tuesday defeating the Twins 4-3 to reach the five hundred mark on their 2023 season.

San Francisco came from behind to beat the Twins. The Giants faced Twins pitcher Sonny Gray who had been throwing lights out, having the best ERA in the league. Gray pitched five innings, giving up six hits and two runs. The Giants had a good one on the mound as well in Alex Cobb who went seven innings, six hits and three runs.

Much as the Giants opened Tuesday’s game in the first inning; the Twins got an early lead to start the game. Byron Buxton hit a home run with Donovan Solano on base taking a 2-0 lead.

The Giants will have their work cut out for them. Gray has numerous options and what is even more concerning is that he had command of all of them. He has not allowed a home run so far this year.

For the second inning in a row, the Giants had two runners on base with two outs. Much as it played out in the third inning, the Giants left two runners stranded in the fourth inning. They had two golden opportunities in both innings but came up empty.

In the fifth inning, Cobb would get burned for a second time with a pitch similar to the one that hurt him in the first inning. He threw a splitter that sailed out of the park off the bat of Michael Taylor. The solo shot gave the Twins a 3-0 lead going into the sixth inning.

In the sixth inning the Giants loaded the bases and knocked Gray out of the game, Jovani Moran would relieve Gray followed by another relief pitcher Brock Stewart and the Twins were in all kinds of trouble. They walked two runners home before the inning was over the Giants had cut into their lead 3-2.

Michael Conforto would break the game wide open with a two-run home run in the seventh inning. Thairo Estrada scored from second base and the Giants now held a 4-3 lead.

Scott Alexander would relieve Cobb in the eighth inning. Cobb had a terrific game going seven innings finishing with eight strikeouts. San Francisco had climbed back to the five hundred mark for the season.

Wednesday’s game three will feature an early first pitch at 10:10 AM. The Giants will send Anthony Desclafani to the mound while the Twins will assign Joe Ryan. Ryan has a 6-1 W-L record and a 2.25 ERA. Desclafani has some good stats as well with a 3-3 W-L record and a 3.09 ERA.