Smith allows Giants to push past Phillies
All-Star closer Will Smith pitched out of an eighth-inning jam, then contributed a two-run single to a three-run uprising in the bottom of the inning, helping the San Francisco Giants outlast the Philadelphia Phillies 9-6 on Sunday night.
Kevin Pillar snapped a tie with an RBI triple in the eighth to set the stage for Smith, who was batting for the first time in 295 appearances over seven seasons.
The win gave the Giants three victories in the four-game series and allowed them to stay relevant in the National League wild card race, just 3 1/2 games out of the second berth, currently held by the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Phillies fell two games off the Cardinals' pace.
On the strength of home runs by Mike Yastrzemski, his 12th, and Scooter Gennett, his second as a Giant, San Francisco took a 6-5 lead into the eighth inning before surrendering the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Corey Dickerson.
Smith then got Brad Miller to fly out with the potential go-ahead run at third base.
Evan Longoria led off the Giants' half of the eighth with his third hit of the game, a single off Jose Alvarez (3-3). He scored when Pillar lashed his go-ahead triple to right-center field with two outs off the Phillies' sixth pitcher, Nick Pivetta.
After Brandon Crawford was walked intentionally, he stole second. He and Pillar both scored on Smith's shocking single to right field that made it 9-6.
Smith (4-0), the Giants' eighth pitcher, allowed a two-out walk in the ninth before completing his 1 2/3-inning outing, his second-longest of the season.
The Phillies led 5-2 at one point, with Bryce Harper and Cesar Hernandez each stroking two-run singles.
Pillar, Longoria and Gennett drove in two runs apiece for the Giants, who improved to 3-4 on a nine-game homestand.
Longoria, Gennett and Yastrzemski all scored twice for San Francisco.
Hernandez collected three hits, while Scott Kingery and J.T, Realmuto had two apiece for the Phillies, who completed a 2-5 Western swing.
Realmuto scored three times for Philadelphia.
Neither starting pitcher got a decision, with the Phillies' Jake Arrieta allowing five runs on seven hits in three hits, while the Giants' Conner Menez was pulled early after serving up three runs on two hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings.
--Field Level Media
