Luis Matos hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, Spencer Howard pitched four scoreless innings and the San Francisco Giants defeated the MLB-leading Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 on Tuesday night.
After the Phillies failed to score in the top of the 10th off Sean Hjelle (2-1), automatic runner Tyler Fitzgerald advanced to third on a flyball from Wilmer Flores before Matos hit him with a flyball to get Matt Strahm (3- 1).
Five pitchers from San Francisco combined to shut down the Phillies for ten innings. The Giants used an opener, followed by Howard as the primary pitcher. For Sean Hjelle, who threw the final two innings, the pitchers knew early on that everyone was locked in. He described the infectious feeling of passing shutout innings from one pitcher to another.
“I don’t want to be that guy who breaks it,” Hjelle said.
The Giants have won 10 of their last 12 games, sweeping the first two games of the three-game series against the Phillies after being swept in a four-game set in Philadelphia earlier this month.
“We do a lot of our best work late in the game,” manager Bob Melvin said. “So as long as we have a chance, we feel like we’re going to win the game when it’s too late.”
Philadelphia has lost three games in a row for the first time this season and has the best record in the Majors at 38-18.
Howard, who started his career with the Phillies, held his former team to four scoreless innings in his first appearance of the season. He followed three shutout innings from teammates Erik Miller and Taylor Rogers to start the game. Howard, once a top player, has developed well in recent seasons and signed a minor league contract with the Giants last year.
Howard said he was trying not to be spiteful and that it was fun pitching against big-name hitters.
“I’m just trying to get them to hit the ball,” Howard said. “The most value I can provide is to eat the most innings and save the pen – whatever the case may be.”
Phillies starter Zack Wheeler threw 101 pitches, struck out nine and allowed two hits. Wheeler, once a highly touted talent in the Giants organization, has held San Francisco to one unearned run in two starts this season. He struck out eleven in seven innings in a 1–0 win at Philadelphia on May 6.
The Giants learned before the game that they would be without one of their best hitters, LaMonte Wade Jr., for an extended period this season. Wade suffered a Grade 2 hamstring injury Monday while sliding into second base and will miss at least four weeks.
Philles third baseman Alec Bohm had a scheduled day off after making two errors in Monday’s loss, manager Rob Thomson said. Bohm was dealing with “general aches and pains” and pinch-hit in the 10th.
Thomson said before the match that he trusts the team’s defense and that Bohm’s sitting was not due to the defensive mistakes. Bohm has made four errors in his last seven games at third.
“That was just a weird game yesterday,” Thomson said. “He has played very consistently. He has really improved. I have no problems with him.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: SS Trea Turner, who has a strained left hamstring, hit a tee for the first time since the injury on Tuesday and hopes to play catch on Wednesday.
Giants: Howard and IF Trenton Brooks were called up from Triple-A Sacramento, with Brooks filling in for Wade at first base and Howard throwing from the bullpen. … Utility player Tyler Fitzgerald was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento. … OF Ryan McKenna and LHP Drew Pomeranz were designated for assignment. … RHP Keaton Winn threw 45 pitches in a bullpen session on Monday and is set to return, Melvin said.
NEXT ONE
LHP Kyle Harrison (4-1, 3.90 ERA) pitches for the Giants against Cristopher Sanchez (2-3, 3.15 ERA) in the final game of the series.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
