OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Brandon Belt hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning, Buster Posey added a two-run drive in the seventh, and the San Francisco Giants backed Madison Bumgarner’s fourth straight win with just enough offense, holding on for a 9-8 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
A night after the Giants rallied in the ninth inning to win 5-4 in the opener of the second Bay Bridge Series between the Bay Area rivals, Oakland nearly paid them back after trailing 9-4 to start the ninth.
After Shane Loux gave up Brandon Inge’s two-out single in the ninth, Santiago Casilla entered and allowed Derek Norris’ run-scoring single for his first career RBI before walking Brandon Moss to load the bases. Casilla then allowed Brandon Hicks’ two-run ground-rule double.
Javier Lopez replaced Casilla and walked Seth Smith to put runners on the corners, then Clay Hensley — the 12th pitcher of the game and San Francisco’s fourth of the inning — came in and got Jemile Weeks on a fly to shallow center caught by second baseman Ryan Theriot to end the 4-hour, 15-minute game for his second save in three chances. There were 385 pitches thrown.
