Bryant, Posey lead Giants to 8-6 win over fading Friars

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Scott Kazmir got the San Francisco Giants into a jam and rookie reliever Camilo Doval got them right out of it.

Doval got three huge outs on eight pitches at a pivotal juncture for the Giants, who beat the free-falling San Diego Padres 8-6 Wednesday night to take a two-game lead in the NL West. Kris Bryant hit a bases-clearing double and Buster Posey had four hits and scored three times.

The Giants got some help in their push for their first division title since 2012 when the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers lost 10-5 at Colorado. The Dodgers have won the division eight straight seasons.

The Giants, whose 99-53 record is the best in the majors, pulled within one win of reaching 100 for the eighth time in franchise history.

The Giants raved about the performance of Doval, a 24-year-old Dominican who relieved Kazmir with the bases loaded, no outs and one run already in during the fifth inning. Doval (4-1) struck out Manny Machado on three straight sliders and then got Tommy Pham to ground into an inning-ending double play.

“We definitely had a little chat right after the half inning in the dugout, just thanking him and basically saying I owe him dinner," Kazmir said. “It's unbelievable. He's got ice in his veins. It's impressive how young he is and still to be able to, in just that big of a moment, to be that composed and be able to make those pitches, especially to Machado to start it off. That was amazing."

Kazmir, a 37-year-old lefty, got through four scoreless innings before getting into a jam that could have swung the game for the Padres. Kazmir opened the fifth by walking Victor Caratini, allowing a single to pinch-hitter Jake Marisnick and walking Fernando Tatis Jr. A catcher interference call against Posey while Jake...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Bryant-Posey-lead-Giants-to-8-5-win-over-fading-16480979.php