SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants got some help on the off day when the Mets and Cardinals went down. By the middle of Tuesday’s game they knew that both wild card competitors had won, so they they took care of business themselves.
Matt Moore was brilliant into the eighth and the lineup broke through against a young Rockies pitching staff. The 12-3 win allowed the Giants (83-74) to stay a half-game behind New York and hold a similarly slim one-game lead over St. Louis.
The Mets and Cardinals also put up a dozen runs as the three teams continued to charge toward a tense weekend.
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The fifth inning represented perhaps the most impressive rally of the second half. The Giants already led 2-1 against rookie German Marquez, and they took advantage of some juicy pitches while batting around. Denard Span kicked things off with a double and scored on Brandon Belt’s liner to right. Belt was caught trying to stretch it to a double, but Buster Posey followed with a homer and Hunter Pence went back-to-back. Brandon Crawford lined a triple and Angel Pagan drove him in with a single. In all, the Giants had six consecutive hits in the four-run frame and hit for the cycle.
Moore cruised into the eighth but he was pulled after two Rockies singled. Joe Nathan stranded the runners with a strikeout of Nolan Arenado. Moore was charged with just one run in 7 2/3 innings.
Starting pitching report: Moore is on a bit of an odd run. He tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts on Tuesday and he has double-digits in two of his last four starts. In the other two, he has six total innings.
Bullpen report: Nathan wants to pitch next season. In the eighth, he looked like a man who should pitch next season.
At the plate: Posey’s homer was his 1,000th hit in the big leagues. The last player to reach 1,000 hits with the Giants was Rich Aurilia (2003).
In the field: In his first night in place of the injured Eduardo Nuñez, Conor Gillaspie scooped Nick Hundley’s rocket to third and made a strong throw to first.
Attendance: The Giants announced a crowd of 41,582. A moment of silence was held for Jose Fernandez.
Up next: Jeff Samardzija faces Tyler Chatwood, who has had some big nights against the Giants.
