Giants get 4 in 10th, hold on for wild 9-5 win over Brewers
MILWAUKEE (AP) — A big 10th inning for the San Francisco Giants got off to a running start by distracting Milwaukee Brewers slick-fielding shortstop Orlando Arcia.
Gorkys Hernandez took off from first at right about the same time that pinch-hitter Kelby Tomlinson lined a bouncer to short. It probably would have turned into a double play if Arcia wasn't covering the bag at second.
Instead, Tomlinson had an infield single, and Hunter Pence followed with an RBI single that opened the scoring in a four-run inning that gave the Giants a 9-5 victory Thursday.
The Giants overcame a rough outing by closer Mark Melancon, who blew a two-run lead in the ninth.
"They kept fighting. That's all you can do," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
His offense roughed up Brewers reliever Jacob Barnes (1-1) for five hits and four runs. Barnes didn't record an out in the 10th.
The Brewers could have had two easy outs on a double play if Arcia wasn't moving to cover Hernandez at second.
"They put runners in motion," manager Craig Counsell said. "They got rewarded for contact."
Until that point, the Brewers had the momentum after getting to Melancon.
Eric Sogard led off the ninth with a homer, and Travis Shaw's RBI single three batters later tied the game at 5 with no outs before Melancon got the next three hitters.
Melancon (1-1) ended up with the win in spite of giving up three runs and two hits.
Maybe this will be the victory that will give the Giants a spark. They split the four-game series with the Brewers and moved to 12 games under .500.