Verlander steadies the ship, Chapman delivers the knockout, and Giants push win streak to three
The San Francisco Giants opened their series against the Chicago Cubs with a crisp 5–2 win on Tuesday night at Oracle Park, giving them their third straight victory behind a strong outing from veteran Justin Verlander.
Verlander, battling through a difficult season, finally found his rhythm. The 42-year-old right-hander scattered seven hits over six innings, allowing two runs and striking out five. With his punchout of Kyle Tucker in the first inning, he moved into ninth place on the all-time strikeout list.
Though the Cubs scratched across single runs in the fourth and fifth, Verlander’s mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches kept them from doing more damage. He improved to 2–10 on the year, lowering his ERA to 4.55, and drew praise from teammates for his composure.
Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, one of the league’s best this season, carved through the Giants’ lineup early, striking out eight in 5.1 innings. But after struggling against left-handers all year, San Francisco made their hits count.
Verlander, battling through a difficult season, finally found his rhythm. The 42-year-old right-hander scattered seven hits over six innings, allowing two runs and striking out five. With his punchout of Kyle Tucker in the first inning, he moved into ninth place on the all-time strikeout list.
Though the Cubs scratched across single runs in the fourth and fifth, Verlander’s mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches kept them from doing more damage. He improved to 2–10 on the year, lowering his ERA to 4.55, and drew praise from teammates for his composure.
Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, one of the league’s best this season, carved through the Giants’ lineup early, striking out eight in 5.1 innings. But after struggling against left-handers all year, San Francisco made their hits count.
Wilmer Flores opened the scoring with a 380-foot solo homer in the second, his 12th of the year. After the Cubs grabbed a 2–1 lead, Luis Matos sparked the fifth with a double off the right-field archway. Heliot Ramos followed with an RBI double down the left-field line, and Rafael Devers punched a bloop single that dropped in front of the shortstop to score Ramos, putting the Giants ahead 3–2.
The knockout blow came in the sixth. After a Flores walk, Matt Chapman unloaded on a 400-foot two-run homer to left, giving San Francisco a 5–2 cushion and chasing Boyd from the game. It was Chapman’s 16th of the season and his first since returning from the injured list.
From there, the bullpen took care of business. Joey Lucchesi and Jose Butto combined for two hitless frames, and Ryan Walker worked around a single in the ninth to record his 12th save, striking out Owen Caissie to end it. Boyd took the loss for Chicago, falling to 12–7 despite lowering his ERA to 2.82.
Ramos led the offense, going 3-for-3 at the plate, while Matos added a double and a run scored. Drew Gilbert, starting in center with Jung Ho Lee getting the night off, showed steady defense, recovering from a misread in the sixth to make a key catch near the wall.
The Giants have now won three straight, climbing to 64–68. For a team that has struggled to string wins together all summer, the formula was clear: a veteran starter holding the line, timely power from the bats, and a bullpen that slammed the door. The Giants will look to extend their win streak tomorrow with Carson Whisenhunt on the mound.
The knockout blow came in the sixth. After a Flores walk, Matt Chapman unloaded on a 400-foot two-run homer to left, giving San Francisco a 5–2 cushion and chasing Boyd from the game. It was Chapman’s 16th of the season and his first since returning from the injured list.
From there, the bullpen took care of business. Joey Lucchesi and Jose Butto combined for two hitless frames, and Ryan Walker worked around a single in the ninth to record his 12th save, striking out Owen Caissie to end it. Boyd took the loss for Chicago, falling to 12–7 despite lowering his ERA to 2.82.
Ramos led the offense, going 3-for-3 at the plate, while Matos added a double and a run scored. Drew Gilbert, starting in center with Jung Ho Lee getting the night off, showed steady defense, recovering from a misread in the sixth to make a key catch near the wall.
The Giants have now won three straight, climbing to 64–68. For a team that has struggled to string wins together all summer, the formula was clear: a veteran starter holding the line, timely power from the bats, and a bullpen that slammed the door. The Giants will look to extend their win streak tomorrow with Carson Whisenhunt on the mound.
Chongwoo Chang / chongwoo.chang@baynewslab.com
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