Jun 12, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) rounds the bases after hitting a triple during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kenny Karst-USA TODAY Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — Brandon Crawford drove in three runs and Denard Span slugged a solo home run into McCovey Cove as the San Francisco Giants routed the Milwaukee Brewers 11-5 on Monday night at AT&T Park.
Span’s splash hit homer — the 70th in Giants history — in the first inning marked the first such feat by a Giants leadoff hitter in the team’s first at-bat. He also laid a precision bunt hit in the third, which hugged the third base line and led to two more runs.
The Giants, who also received a strong five solid innings from reliever Albert Suarez, improved to a major league-best 22-8 since May 11. Suarez gave up two runs on five hits.
San Francisco went ahead for good with a run in the sixth on Brandon Crawford’s sacrifice fly to left, scoring Buster Posey.
In the back-and-forth contest through six innings, the Brewers tied it 4-4 in the top of the sixth on Ramon Flores’ RBI single after a leadoff double by Aaron Hill. The Giants’ Jarrett Parker made an acrobatic catch near the 339-foot marker in left to rob Jonathan Villar for the second out, to limit the damage.
Cain breezed through a 1-2-3 first inning, evoking memories of his June 13 start exactly four years ago when he fired a perfect game against the Houston Astros.
But this version of Cain was coming off the 15-day disabled list, had one victory in his previous six decisions this season, and was on a tight leash from manager Bruce Bochy.
Panik followed Span’s water shot with a triple hit into triples alley, and Belt promptly hit a soft RBI single, making it 2-0.
Cain went 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs, walking five and striking out three
The wheels started wobbling in the third for Cain. He was saddled with consecutive bases-loaded walks by Jonathan Lucroy and Chris Carter as the Brewers sent eight to the plate and tied it the game, 2-2.
Posey brought the crowd back to life in the third with a one-out RBI double to left to put the Giants back ahead, 3-2. He drove in Span and sent Panik to third.
Matt Duffy upped the margin to 4-2 with a sacrifice fly to right.
The two-out difficulties for Cain continued in the fourth, and he was removed for George Kontos after a two-out RBI double by Scooter Gennett, which cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Giants broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the seventh, highlighted by two-run singles by Crawford and Gregor Blanco, all with two outs. Belt, Duffy, Posey and Crawford had four consecutive singles during the crushing rally.
NOTES: Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweeted that Milwaukee and San Francisco have had “preliminary (trade) talks” about Brewers OF Ryan Braun, but nothing is imminent. … Brewers RHP Michael Blazek (right elbow impingement) will make a rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Colorado Springs. … Giants RHP Matt Cain (right hamstring strain) has been reinstated from the 15-day disabled list. RHP Chris Stratton was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, where he will be a starter. Cain made his first start since May 28 on Monday. Cain was 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA before the injury. … San Francisco OF Angel Pagan (left hamstring strain) will return Wednesday after Monday’s rehab game in Sacramento. Pagan was 3-for-7 with an RBI in two rehab starts. … Giants RHP Jake Peavy (neck) should be OK for his next start after aggravating his neck in Sunday’s start. Peavy underwent treatment on Monday.
