San Francisco extends win streak to five with dramatic ninth-inning finish at Oracle Park
The San Francisco Giants capped off a perfect homestand Wednesday with a 4–3 walk-off victory over the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park, sealing a three-game sweep and extending their winning streak to five. Logan Webb was steady on the mound, Willy Adames blasted two home runs, and Jung Ho Lee delivered the decisive hit in the ninth to send the crowd home buzzing.
Chicago struck first in the opening frame. Kyle Tucker doubled and scored on Ian Happ’s RBI single, but Webb escaped further damage by inducing a double play. San Francisco answered immediately. After a walk to Rafael Devers, Adames crushed a first-pitch fastball 417 feet to left-center — his 23rd homer of the season — putting the Giants up 2–1.
The Cubs evened it up in the second with a solo shot from Dansby Swanson, part of a four-hit night against Webb in the early innings. San Francisco’s offense stalled until the fifth, when Lee singled and Pat Bailey followed with a liner to right-center. A double-play grounder prevented a rally, and the game remained tied at 2–2.
Chicago struck first in the opening frame. Kyle Tucker doubled and scored on Ian Happ’s RBI single, but Webb escaped further damage by inducing a double play. San Francisco answered immediately. After a walk to Rafael Devers, Adames crushed a first-pitch fastball 417 feet to left-center — his 23rd homer of the season — putting the Giants up 2–1.
The Cubs evened it up in the second with a solo shot from Dansby Swanson, part of a four-hit night against Webb in the early innings. San Francisco’s offense stalled until the fifth, when Lee singled and Pat Bailey followed with a liner to right-center. A double-play grounder prevented a rally, and the game remained tied at 2–2.
Webb’s lone mistake came in the sixth, when Michael Busch battled through an 11-pitch at-bat before launching a solo homer to straightaway center. It was his 25th of the year and gave Chicago a 3–2 lead. But Adames responded in the bottom half, belting a 400-foot solo shot to center — his second of the night and 24th of the season — to tie it once more.
Both starters settled in from there. Webb lasted seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 3.16. Across the diamond, Shota Imanaga matched him with seven innings of five-hit ball and five strikeouts.
The bullpens held until the ninth, when San Francisco mounted its winning rally. Casey Schmitt singled to center and Wilmer Flores followed with another base hit. With one out, Christian Koss entered as a pinch-runner and stood at second when Lee stepped up. Lee drilled a line drive down the first-base line, sending Koss racing home for the winning run and marking Lee’s first career walk-off hit.
Oracle Park erupted as Lee was mobbed by teammates between first and second. The walk-off gave the Giants their fifth straight win and their second consecutive series sweep, following three victories in Milwaukee.
After taking a series from the Brewers — the best team in baseball at the moment — San Francisco swept the Cubs, becoming the first team all season to do so, with a blend of timely hitting and contagious offense. The Giants, now 66–68, suddenly look rejuvenated. Adames’ power surge, Lee’s clutch bat, and the rotation’s steady performance have them climbing again, with momentum on their side as September approaches.
The Giants continue their homestand Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles, with Robbie Ray expected to take the mound.
Both starters settled in from there. Webb lasted seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 3.16. Across the diamond, Shota Imanaga matched him with seven innings of five-hit ball and five strikeouts.
The bullpens held until the ninth, when San Francisco mounted its winning rally. Casey Schmitt singled to center and Wilmer Flores followed with another base hit. With one out, Christian Koss entered as a pinch-runner and stood at second when Lee stepped up. Lee drilled a line drive down the first-base line, sending Koss racing home for the winning run and marking Lee’s first career walk-off hit.
Oracle Park erupted as Lee was mobbed by teammates between first and second. The walk-off gave the Giants their fifth straight win and their second consecutive series sweep, following three victories in Milwaukee.
After taking a series from the Brewers — the best team in baseball at the moment — San Francisco swept the Cubs, becoming the first team all season to do so, with a blend of timely hitting and contagious offense. The Giants, now 66–68, suddenly look rejuvenated. Adames’ power surge, Lee’s clutch bat, and the rotation’s steady performance have them climbing again, with momentum on their side as September approaches.
The Giants continue their homestand Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles, with Robbie Ray expected to take the mound.
Chongwoo Chang / chongwoo.chang@baynewslab.com
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