SAN FRANCISCO — It wasn’t pretty. But it’s a win.
At this point, that’s good enough for the Giants, who staved off sole possession of the majors’ worst record Friday with a5-2 win to starttheir series against the Pirates.
Robbie Ray walked four batters and was at 72 pitches through three innings, but theGiants’ starterbuckled down to complete six frames.
Despite walking the bases loaded in the third, Pittsburgh’s only damage against the left-hander came on a solo shot from Marcell Ozuna.
It proved to be necessary insurance as the Pirates plated one run and brought the tying run to bat in the ninth. Caleb Killian was able toget out of the jamto earn his second save of the season.
Rafael Devers was the solo proprietor of runs for the home team until San Francisco finally broke through for some insurance in its third scoring opportunity of the evening.
Devers’ fourth home run of the season — his second of the home stand — matched Ozuna blast-for-blast to tie the score at 1 in the bottom of the second. He singled and scored in his next at-bat to give the Giants a 2-1 lead that would hold up for Ray’s third win in nine starts.
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San Francisco added on to its advantage with three runs off the Pirates’ bullpen in the seventh. The rally was started by another slumping slugger, Willy Adames, who added a second knock for his second multi-hit game since April 17.
Ray had been the recipient of some of the lowest run support in the majors (2.72 per game) but got more than enough against Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
