SF Giants rout LA Angels in series finale 13-6
The Giants’ Jorge Soler #2, center hits a three-run home run during a nine-run fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Oracle Park on Sunday june16,2024. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.06.16 – Designated hitter Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer in San Francisco’s nine-run fourth inning and the Giants rout the Los Angeles Angels 13-6 in Sunday’s series finale.
The Giants’ struggling bats woke up in big fashion in the fourth inning to turn a 2-0 deficit into a big lead in a bullpen game for both teams.
“You don’t see a nine-spot very often,” manager Bob Melvin said. “When you come off a loss like that, when you left a lot of guys on base and the at-bats weren’t great, especially the situational at-bats. It’s good to see them come out and have a game like that.”
That gave 29-year-old Spencer Bivens the victory in his long-awaited debut in the majors.
Jose Suarez (1-2) faced five batters in the fourth and didn’t retire any of them, getting replaced after allowing back-to-back two-run doubles to Thairo Estrada and Brett Wisely.
“I feel like I made pretty good pitches,” Suarez said through an interpreter. “They put good contact on them. I can’t control that.”
2024.06.16 (LA Angels vs. SF Giants) See Full Highlights
The Giants’ Jorge Soler #2, center points skyward after hitting a three-run home run during a nine-run fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Oracle Park on Sunday june16,2024. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.06.16 (LA Angels vs. SF Giants) See Full Highlights
2024.06.16 (LA Angels vs. SF Giants) See Full Highlights
Matt Chapman added a run-scoring infield single before Soler broke the game open off Hunter Strickland with his eighth homer of the season to make it 8-2. Austin Slater added an RBI single to cap San Francisco’s most productive inning at home since scoring 10 runs in the fourth inning against Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, 2008.
Bivens was the beneficiary of the big inning after getting called up from Triple-A Sacramento earlier in the day to replace the injured Kyle Harrison. Bivens began his professional career in France and was toiling in the independent leagues before getting signed by the Giants two years ago.
“There are great stories and you always feel good about someone making their major league debut,” Melvin said. “But if you know the travails and everything that he’s been through, this is a real special one. … For him to finally make it to the big leagues, it really gives you goosebumps.”
2024.06.16 – LA Angels vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
The Giants’ Jorge Soler #2, right gets congratulated by team mates after hitting a three-run home run during a nine-run fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Oracle Park on Sunday june16,2024. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.06.16 – LA Angels vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
2024.06.16 – LA Angels vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
He made it to the big leagues 12 days before his 30th birthday and pitched three innings in relief of Erik Miller. He allowed just one hit, a solo homer by Nolan Schanuel, and struck out four batters to get the win.
“It doesn’t really feel real,” Bivens said. “Just waiting to wake up from a dream. But it’s unbelievable. I really don’t have words for it. It’s nothing like I imagined it. It’s better that it’s that way.”
Slater hit a solo homer in the seventh for San Francisco.
The Angels scored four runs in the ninth against closer Camilo Doval, who was so frustrated that he slammed a cooler in the dugout after being removed from the game.
GIANTS SCRATCH HARRISON
Giants placed left-hander Kyle Harrison on the injured list with a right ankle sprain just hours before he was scheduled to start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels.
Harrison rolled his ankle working out in the weight room on Saturday and was unable to pitch. Manager Bob Melvin had no timeline for his return.
2024.06.16 – LA Angels vs. SF Giants (Locked On post recap)
San Francisco Giants pitcher Spencer Bivens #76 throws a pitch during the first fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Oracle Park. San Francisco, California, USA; Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
2024.06.16 – LA Angels vs. SF Giants (Locked On post recap)
2024.06.16 – LA Angels vs. SF Giants (Locked On post recap)
“He’s down for sure,” Melvin said. “Sometimes these things just happen. Could happen anywhere. But working, getting ready for your start, to have it happen like that is very disappointing.”
Reliever Miller started for San Francisco in the series finale in place of Harrison as the Giants opted for a bullpen day in hopes of avoiding a three-game sweep. Miller went one inning in his fifth start of the season in a bullpen game.
Harrison’s injury is the latest to hinder the Giants’ rotation. San Francisco recently placed lefty Blake Snell on the injured list with a groin strain and has been without starters Robbie Ray, Alex Cobb and Tristan Beck all season.
“You can never have too much starting pitching,” Melvin said. “We do have some guys coming back. That’s probably going to take a little while. Kyle’s been really consistent for us so in the meantime we’ll try to figure another way around it. You’ll probably see a little bit more bullpen.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: 3B Luis Rengifo left in the fourth inning with a bruised left wrist after getting hit by Chapman’s hard grounder that went for an RBI infield single in the fourth inning. … 2B Brandon Drury (hamstring) and 1B Miguel Sano (knee) could return from rehab stints this week.
Giants: Harrison was placed on the injured list after rolling his right ankle working out in the weight room on Saturday. Manager Bob Melvin had no timeline for his return. … LHP Blake Snell (left groin) will have a three-inning bullpen session on Tuesday. … 1B Lamonte Wade (hamstring) will travel with the team on the upcoming road trip but is unlikely to be able to return in time to play Thursday when the Giants play St. Louis in Birmingham, Alabama, at Rickwood Field, where Willie Mays played in the Negro leagues.
UP NEXT
Angels: Los Angeles returns home Monday to open a three-game series against Milwaukee with Jose Soriano (4-5, 3.48 ERA) starting against Carlos Rodriguez (0-1, 4.91).
Giants: San Francisco begins a six-game road trip in Chicago against the Cubs. San Francisco hasn’t announced a starter for the opener on Monday. Javier Assad (4-2, 2.81) starts for Chicago.
RELATED: Giants beat Astros on the rubber game to take series
RELATED: See below – SF Giants 2014 World Series Champions
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco Giants, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.
SF Giants 2014 World Series Champions