Photo credit: sfexaminer.com
By Jeremy Kahn
Chris Stratton put a stop to the San Francisco Giants modest three-game losing streak, and it was the bullpen that held down the fort down the stretch.
Stratton went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking three and striking out four and the Giants defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-4 at Wrigley Field Saturday night.
As for Stratton, it was his third straight win. He’s now 6-3 on the season.
It was a huge comeback victory for the Giants, who fell behind 2-0 at the end of the second inning, but then Brandon Crawford continued his hot hitting, as he hit a huge two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning that tied up the game.
After the Cubs retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Giants took the lead back for good in the top of the fifth inning, as Andrew McCutchen doubled to centerfield that scored Gorkys Hernandez. Brandon Belt gave the Giants the lead for good, as he singled to center to score McCutchen.
It was the third loss in their last four games for the Cubs, who were swept in a two-game series against the Cleveland Indians earlier this week at Wrigley Field.
Belt added a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning to score Hernandez from third base, and Evan Longoria moved up an additional 90 feet to second base.
Hernandez is turning out to be a god send for the Giants, as he recently became the Giants everyday centerfielder, replacing Austin Jackson, who came to the Giants during the offseason from the Cleveland Indians. On the game, Hernandez went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and raised his average to .311 on the season.
The Cubs got within one run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Anthony Rizzo hit an opposite field single off of Tony Watson to score Kyle Schwarber; however, that would be the closest that the Cubs would get.
Closer Hunter Strickland came on in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired the Cubs in order for his 10thsave of the season.
Stratton gave up three walks in the bottom of the second inning, as the Cubs took a 1-0 lead and look to extend the score; however, a Javier Baez comebacker that Stratton snared and threw to Nick Hundley for the first out of the inning. Jose Quintana then was unable to help out his own cause, as he grounded into double play to end the inning.
Schwarber then extended the Cubs lead in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit his ninth home run of the season.
After Crawford tied up the game with his sixth home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning, Baez gave the Cubs the lead in the bottom of the half of the inning, as he hit his 12th home run of the inning.
The bullpen quartet of Reyes Moronta, Sam Dyson, Watson and Strickland pitched four innings, allowing one run on three hits, not walking a batter and striking out one.
Quintana pitched just 4.1 innings, as he gave up four runs and five hits and saw his record fall to 5-4 on the season.
NOTES: Ty Blach looks for his fourth win of the season on Sunday night, as he takes the mound against Tyler Chatwood, who also looks for his fourth win of the season. Chatwood leads the major leagues with 40 walks on the season.
Buster Posey is currently day-to-day with soreness in his right hip.
Joe Panik, who is out with a sprained left thumb will begin a rehab assignment on Monday with the Sacramento Rivercats.
Alen Hanson, who replaced Panik at second base and was then injured himself with a strained left hamstring will play an extended spring training game on Monday in Arizona, and then will begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday with San Jose.
Madison Bumgarner began his rehab assignment in Sacramento, and pitched 3.2 innings, not allowing a run or a hit, walking one and striking out eight. Bumgarner also went 1-for-1 in his only plate appearance.
Mark Melancon pitched an inning, and struck out a batter in his only inning of work.
UP NEXT: The Giants and Cubs conclude their series in a nationally televised game on ESPN Sunday night at 5:08 pm PST.
