SAN FRANCISCO—Jorge Soler hit a three-run home run to punctuate a nine-run fourth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Angels 13–6 on Sunday, June 16, to avoid being swept in a three-game, weekend series.
The Giants’ struggling bats woke up in big fashion in the fourth inning to turn a 2–0 deficit into a big lead in a bullpen game for both teams.
“You don’t see a nine-spot very often,” San Francisco Manager Bob Melvin said. “When you come off a loss like [Saturday], when you left a lot of guys on base and the at-bats weren’t great, especially the situational at-bats, it’s good to see them come out and have a game like that.”
The offensive uprising gave 29-year-old rookie right-hander Spencer Bivens the victory in his long-awaited major-league debut.
Jose Suarez (1–2) faced five batters in the fourth and didn’t retire any of them, getting replaced after allowing back-to-back two-run doubles to Thairo Estrada and Brett Wisely.
“I feel like I made pretty good pitches,” Suarez said through an interpreter. “They put good contact on them. I can’t control that.”
Matt Chapman added a run-scoring infield single before Soler broke the game open off Hunter Strickland with his eighth homer of the season to make it 8–2. Austin Slater added an RBI single to cap San Francisco’s most productive inning at home since scoring 10 runs in the fourth inning against Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, 2008.
Bivens was the beneficiary of the big inning after getting called up from Triple-A Sacramento, Calif., earlier in the day to replace the injured Kyle Harrison. Bivens began his professional career in France and was toiling in independent leagues before getting signed by the Giants two years ago.
He made it to the big leagues 12 days before his 30th birthday and pitched three innings in relief of opener Erik Miller. Bivens allowed just one hit, a solo homer by Nolan Schanuel, and struck out four.
“It doesn’t really feel real,” Bivens said. “Just waiting to wake up from a dream. But it’s unbelievable. I really don’t have words for it. It’s nothing like I imagined it. It’s better that it’s that way.”
Slater added a solo homer in the seventh for San Francisco.
Trainer’s Room
Angels: Third baseman Luis Rengifo left in the fourth inning with a bruised left wrist after getting hit by Chapman’s hard grounder that went for an RBI infield single. ... Second baseman Brandon Drury (hamstring) and first baseman Miguel Sano (knee) could return from rehab stints this week.Giants: Harrison was placed on the injured list after rolling his right ankle while working out in the weight room on Saturday. Mr. Melvin had no timeline for Harrison to return. ... Left-hander Blake Snell (left groin) is set to throw a three-inning bullpen session on Tuesday. ... First baseman Lamonte Wade (hamstring) will travel with the team on its upcoming road trip but is unlikely to be able to return in time to play Thursday, when the Giants face the St. Louis Cardinals in Birmingham, Ala. The game is set for historic Rickwood Field, where Hall of Famer and Giants legend Willie Mays began his professional career in the Negro Leagues.
Up Next
Angels: Los Angeles returns home Monday to open a three-game series against Milwaukee, with Jose Soriano (4–5, 3.48 earned-run average) set to start against the Brewers’ Carlos Rodriguez (0–1, 4.91).Giants: San Francisco begins a six-game road trip Monday against the Chicago Cubs. The Giants haven’t announced a starting pitcher. Javier Assad (4–2, 2.81) is scheduled to go for Chicago.
