Giants beat Astros on the rubber game to take series
Giants center fielder Austin Slater had three hits Wednesday, including a two-run single in the fourth inning, in a win over the Astros at Oracle Park. Jun 12, 2024; San Francisco, California, Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
2024.06.12 – Austin Slater had three hits and drove in two runs to help the San Francisco Giants beat the Houston Astros 5-3 on the rubber game to take series.
Slater also stole a base and scored for San Francisco, which took the three-game series in a speedy two hours and seven minutes.
“Anytime you can take a series and contribute in that, it feels good,” Slater said. “Everyone throughout the lineup contributed today and it was a good team win.”
The Giants jumped on Framber Valdez for five runs and eight hits in four innings. Valdez (5-4) threw 59 pitches in his shortest outing of the season, finishing with just one strikeout, his fewest in a game since July 26 when he had one against Texas.
“I felt a little uncomfortable there,” Valdez said through a translator. “The pitches weren’t doing what I wanted them to do, including the breaking stuff. So I was a little out of control there.”
Slater said previously that an extended rehab assignment post-concussion helped him find his swing and rhythm — something he couldn’t do while injured most of spring — and felt energized by Melvin’s confidence in him despite batting .121 against left-handed pitchers to start the year.
Time and faith look to be paying off, as Slater went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a stolen base on Wednesday and is 6-for-13 in four games since his return. The leadoff hitter upped his on-base percentage to .349.
“That’s what he does,” Melvin said. “Top of the order against lefties. I don’t think it has anything to do with me. It’s him settling in, getting consistent at-bats and doing his thing at the top of the order.”
2024.06.12 (Houston Astros vs. SF Giants) See Full Highlights
Giants’ Austin Slater, center, gets congratulated for the three hits including a two-run single in the fourth inning, in a win over the Astros at Oracle Park. Wednesday, Jun 12, 2024; San Francisco, California, Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
2024.06.12 (Houston Astros vs. SF Giants) See Full Highlights
2024.06.12 (Houston Astros vs. SF Giants) See Full Highlights
San Francisco right-hander Logan Webb (6-5) permitted three runs and seven hits in six innings.
“I thought early on I was really good, and then later on I started to kind of get behind guys and I think that’s when some of the stuff happened,” Webb said. “But overall, I felt pretty good.”
Ryan Walker, Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval combined for three scoreless innings in relief. Doval struck out former Giants utility player Mauricio Dubón to end the game, earning his 12th save in 14 chances.
Wilmer Flores gave San Francisco an early lead with a sacrifice fly in the third. Matt Chapman followed with an RBI double.
Jeremy Peña drove in Houston’s first run on an infield single in the fourth.
Slater answered with a two-run single in the bottom of the inning, and Heliot Ramos added a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1.
“It’s huge, especially against a starter like that,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said of the early offense. “And then we have Webby on the mound. So you really feel good about winning the game.”
2024.06.12 – Houston Astros vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve hits a single against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2024.06.12 – Houston Astros vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
2024.06.12 – Houston Astros vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run homer to center in the sixth, his 14th of the year.
Webb had to tip his cap.
His 1-0 change-up to Alvarez went exactly where he wanted it: well below the zone near the lefty slugger’s shins. But Alvarez dug down and sliced through, sending it the opposite way 405 feet for a two-run home run.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen a change-up underneath hit the other way. I was in awe as it happened,” Webb said. “When he first hit it, I was like, ‘No way,’ and then it kept going.”
After an imperfect start to the season, Webb has pitched at least six innings in each of his past seven outings with a 2.54 ERA over that stretch. Heading up a rotation that has struggled to eat innings, Webb has been a savior.
2024.06.12 – Houston Astros vs. SF Giants (95.7fm The Game post recap)
San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb (62) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Oracle Park. San Francisco, California, USA; Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
2024.06.12 – Houston Astros vs. SF Giants (95.7fm The Game post recap)
2024.06.12 – Houston Astros vs. SF Giants (95.7fm The Game post recap)
“Webb is not an easy guy to go against, but I thought our at-bats were pretty good,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I thought we were in the game and we gave ourselves some chances.”
Designated hitter Jorge Soler, looking for a few good games to hit his stride, reached base four times with two hits and pair of walks.
“Every game he has like that is important. He was on base every time. It’s going to come,” Melvin said. “This guy has a long history of being a really good hitter, run producer. World Series hero and all those things. Sometimes you don’t get off to a great start and there’s a lot of new things for him. It’s going to come around.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: OF Kyle Tucker (right shin contusion) has not begun baseball activities and is not expected to return Friday when he is eligible to come off the injured list. However, Espada did not rule him out for the weekend. … C Yainer Díaz missed his third straight game with a sore right index finger, though Espada said he was available off the bench and should be ready to start Friday.
Giants: LHP Blake Snell (left groin strain) threw off a mound for the first time since going on the IL on June 3. … RHP Austin Warren (right elbow UCL surgery) pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout in a rehab outing with Single-A San Jose on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Astros: Return home for a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers beginning Friday night. RHP Hunter Brown (2-5, 5.58 ERA) seeks his fifth straight quality start opposite Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (8-1, 1.92).
Giants: RHP Spencer Howard (0-0, 2.03) opens a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. The Angels hadn’t announced a starter.
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