Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong lays down a sacrifice bunt in the fourth inning of San Francisco's 8-5 win over Philadelphia Saturday night.
On a night the Giants reached 50 million in total attendance at AT&T Park faster than any ballpark, fans cheered their team to a 8-5 victory over the lowly Philadelphia Phillies.
Welcome as it was given their recent drought, the Giants’ Saturday night win was more entertaining than it was impressive.
Just the night before, the Giants logged an AT&T Park record 22 hits in the first game of the series.
“I think they just caught their breath. They got their legs back and I’m seeing different swings and different at-bats and they’re a bit more rested.”
Ryan Howard delivered a RBI single for the Phillies off starter Ryan Vogelsong in the first inning, and Brandon Crawford tripled in Brandon Belt to tie the game at 1-1 in the second inning.
Following three scoreless innings, the Phillies in appeared to take control of the game with home runs by Howard and Cody Asche in the sixth inning.
The Philadelphia Phillies walk off of the field after batting practice before facing the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.
Giants fan Grace Witt, third from left, is recognized by the San Francisco Giants organization as the 50 millionth fan as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (32) throws a pitch in the first inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (32) throws a pitch in the first inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) hits an RBI single in the first inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher David Buchanan (55) throws a pitch in the first inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) hits an RBI triple in the second inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) hits an RBI triple in the second inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong lays down a sacrifice bunt in the fourth inning of San Francisco's 8-5 win over Philadelphia Saturday night.
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (32) throws a pitch in the fifth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants center fielder Angel Pagan (16) can't catch up to a Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis (13) hit in the fifth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) watches a solo home run in the sixth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) rounds second base as the umpire signals a home run in the sixth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Josh Osich (61) throws a pitch in the sixth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants center fielder Angel Pagan (16) hits an RBI double in the sixth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants second baseman Matt Duffy (5) connects for an RBI triple in the sixth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik (12) scores on an RBI triple by San Francisco Giants second baseman Matt Duffy (5) in the sixth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) connects for a single in the sixth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants second baseman Ehire Adrianza (1) is congratulated by San Francisco Giants first base coach Bill Hayes (58) after an RBI single in the seventh inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Javier Lopez (49) throws a pitch in the eighth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Sergio Romo (54) throws a pitch in the ninth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Sergio Romo (54) is taken out of the game by San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy (15) in the ninth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Santiago Casilla (46) throws a pitch in the ninth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Santiago Casilla (46) celebrates a save in the 8-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Santiago Casilla (46) and catcher Buster Posey (28) celebrate a 8-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
San Francisco Giants right fielder Gregor Blanco (7), center fielder Angel Pagan (16) and right fielder Hunter Pence (8) celebrate an 8-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 11, 2015.more
Photos by Scot Tucker/SFBay
But the Giants rallied in the bottom of the sixth. It wasn’t eight runs like their explosive fourth-inning rally on Friday, but the Giants batted around for the second game in a row, putting up a five-spot. Angel Pagan doubled to right and brought home two runs, Matt Duffy tripled and had two RBI. Buster Posey got a RBI single off Luis Garcia (L, 3-4, 3.86 ERA) to put the Giants up 6-4.
For the third game this season, Duffy was one hit — a home run this time — shy of hitting for the cycle. He said:
“A lot of it is an attitude. If you think you can score runs, a lot of times, it puts you in a position to be more positive. And once one guy comes through, the pressure’s off your shoulders a little bit.”
Vogelsong was run after giving up homer-walk-homer in the sixth inning. Josh Osich (W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA) picked up his first career win by getting Domonic Brown to line out to left and escape the frame.
The Giants added two more runs in the seventh for insurance. Sergio Romo started the ninth but couldn’t get that last out after giving up an RBI double to Odubel Herrera in a stubborn seven-pitch at-bat. Santiago Casilla got Ben Revere to ground out to end the game to record his 22nd save.
Pagan said:
“We’re going to have ups and downs. We have no control over how many games we’re going to win or lose. The reality is we always go out there and play hard and we have no control over the result. We’re just feeling good right now. Like I’ve said before, we’re just trying to finish this first half strong so we can get ready mentally for the second one.”
Meanwhile, the Phillies are the first team to lose 61 games before the All-Star break since the Houston Astros in 2011.
Howard said:
“These guys are champions for a reason. Champions don’t quit. They get down early and these guys just continue to fight. It’s one of those games where it’s going to be a battle for 27 outs and unfortunately we came up on the short side of things and just got to try and come back tomorrow.”
Sunday it’s Chris Heston (8-5, 3.51 ERA) on the mound for the Giants opposed by the Phillies Chad Billingsley (1-2, 6.67 ERA) First pitch is at 1:05 p.m. First 20,000 fans get a World Champions Cap.