Wade's pinch-hit HR in 9th lifts Giants past A's 6-5

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler went to the right player at the right time once again.

Pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. connected for a two-run homer in the ninth inning, helping the Giants rally for a 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

Brandon Belt drew a one-out walk against Lou Trivino (5-5) and was replaced by Mike Yastrzemski. Wade followed with his 16th homer, a towering drive to right on a 1-1 pitch.

“Our offense was able to come from behind and put together some really strong at-bats and I just wanted to follow suit and do the same thing,” Wade said. “(Trivino’s) got a lot of good stuff that’s moving away from you and really coming into you, so just trying to push him out over the middle and get your best swing off. Luckily I was able to do that.”

Trivino said he left the pitch up too high to Wade.

“We needed to win that game,” a solemn Trivino said. “We had the least most of the game and I thought we were on a roll. It hurts a little more.”

Kris Bryant, Brandon Belt and Darin Ruf also homered for San Francisco, which trailed 5-2 after six innings. The major league-leading Giants (79-44) snapped a two-game skid and stayed 1 1/2 games ahead of the charging Dodgers for the top spot in the NL West.

“One of the reasons I like LaMonte coming up in a big moment like that in a big pinch-hit spot, cold off the bench, is because of the way he leads off a game,” Kapler said. “He leads off the game ready from pitch one. We know he’s dangerous enough where can put the ball in the seats like he did.”

Starling Marte doubled twice for Oakland, continuing his surge since the All-Star break. Josh Harrison added an RBI double.

The A’s fell 3 1/2 games behind the Astros in the AL West....

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Wade-s-pinch-hit-HR-in-9th-lifts-Giants-past-A-s-16403126.php