SAN FRANCISCO — For three straight games, the Giants have looked dead in the water. For three straight games, the Giants have stormed back to life.
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On Wednesday, they trailed the St. Louis Cardinals by five runs going into the bottom of the eighth before putting up six runs to record their first three-game sweep of the season. On Friday, they were one swing away from erasing a six-run deficit, a comeback effort that ultimately fell short. And on Saturday, those pesky Giants were at it again.
The Giants entered the bottom of the eighth trailing by four runs, but they changed the complexion of the ballgame in a stretch of three batters. Rookie Drew Cavanaugh, in his 145th career plate appearance, led off the inning with his first major-league homer. Two batters later, Drew Gilbert sent a two-run shot into McCovey Cove on the hop. In a blink, San Francisco’s 7-3 deficit was cut to 7-6.
That would end up being the final score. Despite another valiant effort, San Francisco fell short of completing a comeback against the Padres for the second time in the last two days.
Rafael Devers remained on a heater with his 37th home run of the season, a towering two-run shot that landed in the right-field arcade. Devers, who has 11 home runs in his last 18 games, is now just two RBIs away from becoming the first Giant since Buster Posey in 2012 to total at least 100 RBIs in a single season.
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Along with Devers, one of the Giants’ (62-87) bright spots was Jonah Cox’s defense at second base. Cox, a primary center fielder, has only appeared in eight career games at second base as a professional, but the 25-year-old rookie continues to look like a natural at the position.
In the top of the fifth, Cox ranged to his right on a grounder up the middle by Jackson Merrill, backhanded the ball and threw across his body to record the out. Two innings later, Cox made a sliding stop to deny Ethan Salas his first major-league hit, then had a diving grab to deny Jake Cronenworth an RBI single.
Rookie left-hander Cesar Perdomo, fresh off six scoreless innings against the Mets, was roughed up in his second career start. Over 4 2/3 innings, Perdomo allowed five runs on 10 hits and served up a solo homer to Merrill that landed in the Padres’ bullpen.
Up next
Logan Webb (8-8, 4.10 ERA) will make his final appearance against the Padres this season as the Giants try to avoid being swept.
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