Dickerson's pinch-hit homer helps keep Giants in playoff mix

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants got some timely swings off the bench to stay right in the playoff race.

Pinch-hitter Alex Dickerson connected for a go-ahead homer in the seventh and Austin Slater also went deep, helping the Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Dickerson hit his first pinch-hit homer since exactly four years earlier on Sept. 22, 2016, with San Diego against the Giants at Petco Park. It was his 10th homer that season, and his 10th this year.

It has been quite a two weeks for Dickerson, from a false-positive test result for COVID-19 that postponed a pair of games in his hometown of San Diego to just returning from the paternity list after he and wife, Jennifer, welcomed son, Levi.

“I think he's making really good decisions, I think he's seeing the ball really well, I think he has a ton of confidence right now,” manager Gabe Kapler said.

San Francisco is one of four teams chasing the final two NL playoff spots. Philadelphia (27-29) lost its fourth straight game after a doubleheader sweep by Washington, falling behind Cincinnati (28-28), Milwaukee (27-27) and the Giants (27-27).

Kevin Pillar hit a tying double for Colorado in the seventh against his former club. The Rockies had won two straight following a four-game losing streak.

Tyler Rogers (3-3) recorded the final out of the seventh for the win. Sam Coonrod worked the ninth for his third save.

Slater hit his first career career leadoff homer to stake San Francisco to a quick lead, and Joey Bart added an RBI double. Brandon Belt drove in two more runs with a pinch-hit double in the seventh against Jairo Díaz (1-2), who also surrendered Dickerson’s drive.

Charlie Blackmon’s groundout got Colorado on the board in the sixth and chased Drew Smyly.

Rockies starter...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Dickerson-s-pinch-hit-homer-helps-keep-Giants-in-15589848.php