SAN FRANCISCO -- It doesn't matter how the hits and runs come, as long as they come. It wasn't pretty for the Giants on Wednesday, but the hits finally dropped and runs were finally scored.After a dormant Giants offense scored just six runs in its last six games -- each a loss -- the Giants' bats woke up and the team avoided what would've been its first winless six-game homestand at AT&T Park with a 7-5 comeback victory against the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon. 
Softly hit grounders finding holes and bloopers coming in the "well-placed" variety were a welcome change of pace for the Giants, but it was a blunder by the Pirates that led to the winning run. In the bottom of the seventh with Andrew Susac batting in a 5-5 game, a wild pitch from Justin Wilson bounced away from catcher Chris Stewart. His hurried throw to the plate went awry, and Joe Panik scored the winning run from third base.It didn't take long for the scoring to begin. After consecutive singles from Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey in the first inning, Pablo Sandoval walked to load the bases. Third baseman Josh Harrison couldn't handle a ball chopped by Michael Morse, allowing Crawford to score. Panik drew a five-pitch walk to add a second run, and Gregor Blanco hit a blooper over a leaping Jordy Mercer to give the Giants a 3-0 lead. The lead was short-lived, though.A Travis Snider RBI got the Pirates on the board in the second, and after Tim Lincecum walked pitcher Charlie Morton to start the third, Josh Harrison tied the game with his third home run of the series. The Giants again loaded the bases in the third, and Susac recorded his first Major League RBI on his first big league hit as he singled to give the Giants a 4-3 lead. Again, it wouldn't last long.Mercer turned an 89 mph fastball into a two-run home run with Snider aboard in the top of the fourth. One batter later, Lincecum was chased from the game. He surrendered five runs on five hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings.Another Blanco RBI single in the seventh tied the game, before Panik scored what proved to be the winning run one batter later. Sandoval added an RBI single in the eighth.Relievers Juan Gutierrez, Javier Lopez, Jean Machi, Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla combined to throw 5 2/3 shutout innings.Ryan Hood / MLB.com
Softly hit grounders finding holes and bloopers coming in the "well-placed" variety were a welcome change of pace for the Giants, but it was a blunder by the Pirates that led to the winning run. In the bottom of the seventh with Andrew Susac batting in a 5-5 game, a wild pitch from Justin Wilson bounced away from catcher Chris Stewart. His hurried throw to the plate went awry, and Joe Panik scored the winning run from third base.It didn't take long for the scoring to begin. After consecutive singles from Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey in the first inning, Pablo Sandoval walked to load the bases. Third baseman Josh Harrison couldn't handle a ball chopped by Michael Morse, allowing Crawford to score. Panik drew a five-pitch walk to add a second run, and Gregor Blanco hit a blooper over a leaping Jordy Mercer to give the Giants a 3-0 lead. The lead was short-lived, though.A Travis Snider RBI got the Pirates on the board in the second, and after Tim Lincecum walked pitcher Charlie Morton to start the third, Josh Harrison tied the game with his third home run of the series. The Giants again loaded the bases in the third, and Susac recorded his first Major League RBI on his first big league hit as he singled to give the Giants a 4-3 lead. Again, it wouldn't last long.Mercer turned an 89 mph fastball into a two-run home run with Snider aboard in the top of the fourth. One batter later, Lincecum was chased from the game. He surrendered five runs on five hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings.Another Blanco RBI single in the seventh tied the game, before Panik scored what proved to be the winning run one batter later. Sandoval added an RBI single in the eighth.Relievers Juan Gutierrez, Javier Lopez, Jean Machi, Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla combined to throw 5 2/3 shutout innings.Ryan Hood / MLB.com
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
