Photo credit: @KNBR
By Jeremy Kahn
SAN FRANCISCO — Kevin Pillar did everything for the San Francisco Giants from getting hits to becoming the groundskeeper.
Pillar went 3-for-3, including a tie-breaking solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, helping the Giants to a 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in front of 35,106 on Fireworks Night at Oracle Park.
This was the third straight win for the Giants, marking the fourth time this season that they have reached that number of wins in a row.
Drew Pomeranz went the first five innings, as he went the first five innings, allowing two (none earned), allowing five hits, walking three and striking out five and raised his record to 2-6 on the season.
The last two games he has been a different guy, said Bruce Bochy.
All of the Giants runs on the evening came via home runs, as Pablo Sandoval gave the Giants a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he hit an opposite field two-run home run off of Brewers starter Zach Davies, who entered the game with a 7-0 record.
Sandovals home run also scored Brandon Belt, who led off the inning with a walk against Davies, who like Pomeranz also pitched five innings.
It was also a nice night at the plate for Sandoval, who went 3-for-4 at the plate, as the Giants make it three wins in a row.
The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, as Orlando Arcia scored on a passed ball by Buster Posey.
Things got weird with Arcia at the plate, as it looked like he struck out on a pitch in the ground; however, home plate umpire Paul Emmel said that Arcia tipped the ball, much to the chagrin of both Posey and Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
Lorenzo Cain then singled to center field that sent Arcia over to third, and with Christian Yelich at the plate, Posey was unable to hold onto the Pomeranz pitch and the Brewers took a 1-0 lead.
Throw strikes when I needed to, said Pomeranz.
After Sandoval gave the Giants the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, Yelich tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning, as he singled to left to score Cain.
Pillar then gave the Giants the lead for good, as he hit his eighth home run of the season into the left field seats.
Things got a little strange in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Pillar stole second, the base popped out of the ground after he arrived on the bag. Brewers manager Craig Counsell came out to see if Pillar was out, since his foot came off the base; however, after a review, it was determined that Pillar was safe.
Instead of having the grounds crew fix the base, Pillar conveniently put the base back into the ground and play was resumed.
Definitely a first for me, said Pillar. Umpire (Chad Fairchild) said he had never seen it either, Pillar added.
Mike Yastrzemski then stretched the lead up to 5-2 following the Pillar swipe of second base, as he hit second major league home run and first at home over the center field wall.
Davies went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out two and lost for the first time this season.
Things got a little dicey in the top of the eighth inning, as Mark Melancon threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded that scored Jesus Aguilar from third base.
Melancon was able to get out of the jam, as he got Cain to fly out to end the inning.
Melancon had some tough luck, said Bochy.
Mike Moustakas got the inning going, as he singled and was then retired on a double play ground ball by Hernan Perez; however, Aguilar walked and then Arcia hit a single off of Joe Paniks glove that sent Aguilar to third. Travis Shaw then walked, and Melancon uncorked a wild pitch that scored Aguilar.
The single by Moustakas extended his hitting streak up to eight games, as he went 2-for-5 on the evening.
Will Smith came on to close it out for the Giants, as he picked up his 17th save of the season. Smith walked Yasmani Grandal with two outs, but re-grouped to get Moustakas strikeout to end the game.
NOTES: This was the most home runs in a game for the Giants since they hit four home runs in a game on June 4, 2018 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, a 10-4 victory at what was known as AT&T Park.
Belt extended his on-base streak up to 17 games, dating back to May 23 and is 17-for-54 during the streak.
UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner takes the mound for the Giants on Saturday afternoon, while Jimmy Nelson takes the hill for the Brewers.
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