SAN FRANCISCO — Jean Machi and the San Francisco Giants ended their six-game losing streak in the most wacky way. They don’t care how it happened, any break is welcome these days.
SAN FRANCISCO — Jean Machi and the San Francisco Giants ended their six-game losing streak in the most wacky way. They don’t care how it happened, any break is welcome these days.
A timely, heads-up glance by Machi helped San Francisco take advantage of a huge baserunning blunder by Pittsburgh, and the Giants tagged out of two runners who wandered away on the same play to beat the Pirates 7-5 Wednesday.
“Just like we drew it up, right?” second baseman Joe Panik quipped. “We got lucky with that one. Everything happened so quick. Almost like Little League, a rundown, playing a game of ‘Pickle.’”
San Francisco stopped a skid that matched its longest of the season, and avoided the club’s first winless homestand of at least seven games in the 15-year history of AT&T Park.
The Pirates, who had won three in a row, led 5-4 in the sixth when Chris Stewart drew a one-out walk with runners on second and third.
Machi (6-0) got the ball back from the catcher and noticed Travis Snider had left second base, apparently thinking it was a bases-loaded walk.
“Absolutely! It was 100 percent mental error on my part,” Snider said. “Offensively, we could have made something happen. Honestly, I was thinking about getting to third base and if he walked I’d get to third. That’s obviously not what you want to happen when you have first open. I take ownership for that mistake.”
Machi threw to shortstop Brandon Crawford to trap Snider in a rundown. Crawford tagged Snider, then saw Gaby Sanchez stray off third and break for home.
Crawford threw to Machi, who tossed back to third baseman Pablo Sandoval to get Sanchez.
“You don’t see that very often. We got a break there,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I haven’t seen that. He must’ve thought the bases were loaded, going to third.”
Gregor Blanco hit a tying single in the seventh, and a passed ball by Stewart later in the inning put the Giants ahead. Justin Wilson (3-2) took the loss.
Santiago Casilla, San Francisco’s fifth reliever after Tim Lincecum’s short start, earned his eighth save in 11 chances.
Jordy Mercer hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Josh Harrison also connected for the Pirates. But the blunder on the bases left manager Clint Hurdle baffled.
“You know, I have a buddy and we always talk about how if you watch enough games you’ll continually see something you have never seen before,” he said. “Unfortunately, that’s the first time I’ve seen us walk into a double play.”
INDIANS 2, MARINERS 0
CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber pitched a three-hitter for his first career shutout, outdueling Felix Hernandez and leading the Cleveland Indians over Seattle.
Kluber (11-6) gave three singles, struck out eight and walked none.
Hernandez (11-3) didn’t allow a runner until Carlos Santana drew a leadoff walk in the fifth. Yan Gomes delivered a two-run double later in the inning.
ROCKIES 6, CUBS 4
CHICAGO — Brandon Barnes hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the 10th inning, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs.
Colorado loaded the bases on two walks and Michael McKenry’s third hit of the game before Barnes singled with one out against Wesley Wright (0-2). Drew Stubbs then scored on a wild pitch, helping the Rockies stop a three-game slide.
BREWERS 5, RAYS 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Yovani Gallardo gave up four hits in seven innings, Martin Maldonado tied a career high with four RBIs and the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers avoided a three-game sweep by beating David Price and Tampa Bay
Gallardo (6-5) retired 13 in a row at one point.
Price (11-8), the subject of trade speculation heading into Thursday’s deadline for non-waiver deals, had his bid to win a team-record seventh consecutive start dashed after allowing four runs and seven hits over seven innings.
ORIOLES 4, ANGELS 3
BALTIMORE — Kevin Gausman pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Adam Jones homered and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels for their seventh win in nine games.
Gausman (5-3) retired his first 14 batters he faced. Darren O’Day struck out two in a perfect eighth and Zach Britton gave up a single in the ninth before earning his 21st save.
Garrett Richards (11-4) gave up four runs in seven innings.
ASTROS 8, ATHLETICS 1
HOUSTON — Dallas Keuchel pitched a four-hitter and Robbie Grossman homered to cap a six-run first inning that sent the Houston Astros over Oakland.
Keuchel (10-7) threw his fourth complete game of the season, tying Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw for the major league lead.
TIGERS 7, WHITE SOX 2
DETROIT — Max Scherzer pitched seven impressive innings, and the Detroit Tigers scored six runs in the first inning to beat the Chicago White Sox.
Nick Castellanos hit a three-run homer in the first and added an RBI single in the seventh for the Tigers, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Scherzer (13-3) allowed a run and five hits.
BLUE JAYS 6, RED SOX 1
BOSTON — Mark Buehrle pitched 6 2-3 innings to earn his first win in almost two months and Dioner Navarro had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Toronto Blue Jays over Boston for their fifth consecutive victory.
RANGERS 3, YANKEES 2
ARLINGTON, Texas — Colby Lewis retired his final 13 batters in seven strong innings and the Texas Rangers clinched their first series victory in a month, beating the New York Yankees.
Brett Gardner led off the game with a homer for the second straight night, after homering twice in the series-opening loss for New York.
NATS 4, MARLINS 3
MIAMI — Tanner Roark won his fourth consecutive start and Washington averted a series sweep by snapping Miami’s six-game winning streak.
For the fourth start in a row, Roark (11-6) allowed one run in seven innings, lowering his ERA to 2.74.
Drew Storen allowed two runs in the ninth before retiring Reid Johnson on a forceout with two on for the final out to earn his first save since August 2013.
METS 11, PHILLIES 2
NEW YORK — Daniel Murphy hit a three-run homer to back up Zack Wheeler’s sixth straight strong start, and New York routed Philadelphia.
The Mets sent 10 men to the plate in the seventh inning, scoring five insurance runs off the Philadelphia bullpen to take two of three in the series. Lucas Duda homered and had three RBIs.
D-BACKS 5, REDS 4
CINCINNATI — Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer that kept Alfredo Simon winless since the All-Star game, and Arizona held on to take a series between two teams struggling to score runs.
Goldschmidt’s 19th homer off Simon (12-6) gave the Diamondbacks two of three in the series. Simon has gone 0-3 since his first All-Star selection. Didi Gregorius added a two-run homer in the ninth.