Game Wrap 9/24/2016: Giants 9 Padres 6

The Giants offense picked up Madison Bumgarner, who uncharacteristically gave up 5 runs on 3 dingers, to win in extra innings.  Key Lines:

Denard Span- 1 for 5, HR, BB.  BA= .261.  Span has been struggling, but hit one into the short porch down the RF line plating 2 insurance runs in the 10'th.  He now has 11 HR's on the season, 3 more than his previous career high of 8 in 2009.

Eduardo Nunez- 2 for 5, SB(39).  BA= .286.  The Giants may have found a new emotional leader.  In addition to the offensive line, he sprinted in from 3B without a second's hesitation to make a running catch of a foul pop that Buster Posey completely lost in the twilight.  If the pure joy and enthusiasm of that play isn't enough to convince you, add in the emotional response to getting called out by the 2B ump on a steal attempt in the 9'th and the subsequent overturning of the call on replay.  Yeah, Nunez is fired up and it's starting to fire up his teammates too!

Angel Pagan- 3 for 5, SB(14).  BA= .273.  Pagan has been struggling out of the #2 slot in the batting order.  He moves down for this game and responds with a 3-hit night including a leadoff single in the 10'th that led to the go-ahead run.

Madison Bumgarner- 2 for 3, 2 2B.  BA= .171.  On a rough night on the mound, Bumgarner helped himself again at the plate.

Kelby Tomlinson- 1 for 1. BA= .299.  Kelby is 10 for 23, .435, with RISP.  This one drove in the go-ahead run after Pagan led off the 10'th with a single and took 2B on Adrianza's Sac Bunt.

Madison Bumgarner- 6 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 2.71.  There is an offshore flow going in SoCal and the ball was jumping out of Petco Park.

Hunter Strickland- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.15.  Strickland overcame his recent struggles to hold the line for 5 batters in dominant fashion.

Sergio Romo- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(3).  ERA= 2.93.  Romo's 3 Save in as many tries.  He seems to have stabilized the Closer role, at least for the time being.

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The Win put the Giants into a tie with the Mets, who lost, for the 2 Wild Card playoff spots.  The Cardinals won and still trail by 0.5 games.

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Ty Blach gets the call for his first MLB start today facing lefty Clayton Richard.  If you think Petco was a live yard last night…..Day Game, hot, dry, offshore flow…...