By Jeremy Kahn
SAN FRANCISCO-Brandon Hicks and Pablo Sandoval each liked swinging against Minnesota Twins starter Kyle Gibson.
The first pitch Sandoval saw from Gibson, he planted onto the arcade in right field in the bottom of the first inning and the San Francisco Giants would go on to defeat the Twins 6-2 before a crowd of 41,514, the 269th consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.
Hicks struck out against Gibson in his first at-bat against the right-hander in the bottom of the second inning, but in his next at-bat in the bottom of the fourth inning it was a different story.
The second baseman hit a Gibson pitch into the left field seats for his eighth home run of the season, extending his career high for home runs that was previously three for the Oakland A’s during the 2011 season.
Tim Lincecum went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking six and striking out four, as he upped his record to 4-3 on the season.
Gibson went five innings, allowing five runs on five hits, walking four and did not strike out a batter before he was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the top of the sixth inning.
Angel Pagan got the ball rolling for the Giants in the bottom of the first inning, as he doubled to led off the inning against Gibson.
Hunter Pence then singled to deep shortstop, and despite being called out at first base for the first out of the inning, Bruce Bochy challenged the call and after just 33 seconds, the call was reversed by the umpires.
Buster Posey then hit into a Fielders’ Choice that retired Pagan at home plate, then Sandoval sent the Gibson offering onto the arcade for his fifth home run of the season.
Joe Mauer got the Twins on the board in the top of the third inning, as he tripled into Triples’ Alley in right-center field to Brian Dozier from first base, who led off the inning with a single.
Chris Parmelee drove in the second Twins run of the inning, as he grounded out to Hicks at second base to easily score Mauer from third base.
Pence gave the Giants a two-run lead in the bottom of the third inning, as he reached on a Fielding Error by Eduardo Escobar at shortstop.
Hicks gave the Giants a three-run for the second time in the game, as he took Gibson deep for his eighth home run of the season.
Brandon Crawford led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a triple that just eluded a diving Parmelee in right-center field.
Hicks then drove in his second run of the evening, as he hit a sacrifice fly to give the Giants their final run of the evening.
The Twins tried to threaten in the top of the eighth inning, as they were able to get two runners on against Javier Lopez, who gave up a double to Escobar and then walked Aaron Hicks; however Jean Machi came onto replace Lopez and was able to get pinch-hitter Josmil Pinto to ground into a inning-ending double play.
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