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SAN FRANCISCO — It’s been nearly three years since the Giants’ bullpen melted down in the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.
Rosters turn over, players move on, and fans turn their attention toward brighter days ahead, but the memories remain fresh for all who took part.
Second baseman Joe Panik is one of a handful of Giants players who can still recall what October baseball in San Francisco feels like. After a 5-4, come-from-behind win that involved a collapse from the Cubs bullpen, Panik is ready to experience it all again.
“That’s a playoff team over there and a playoff atmosphere,” Panik said. “That’s Giants baseball.”
A magical run requires multiple heroes and on Monday, it was Panik’s turn to step into the spotlight.
After Brandon Crawford and Austin Slater delivered RBI hits against Pedro Strop in the bottom of the eighth, Panik broke a 4-4 tie with a RBI double down the left field line to cap off a three-run rally.
The 37,119 fans in attendance featured several thousand Cubs supporters who rewarded Robel Garcia and Kyle Schwarber with standing ovations following solo home runs early in the ballgame.
But after “Don’t Stop Believin” blared over the speakers and the Giants stormed back to take the lead, there was no mistaking which team had the home park advantage.
“They always travel well, but I’ll tell you what, that’s October baseball at AT&T Park,” said Panik, who quickly corrected the name of the stadium. “When our fans get going, that’s what you think of. We got the momentum going. That’s the Oracle Park that I know.”
With their ninth win in their last 10 games, the Giants (51-50) moved above .500 for the first time this season.
Each of their last four victories have featured different catalysts. Each of their last four victories have come by one run. And each of their last four victories have continued to build confidence in the dugout that’s suddenly unshakeable.
“They know we can come back against any deficit and against good pitching,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s a mindset that can be changed with a little success.”
The Giants have now won 16 of their last 19 games and have pulled within 2.0 games of the second Wild Card spot in the National League.
Panik’s first three-hit game since May 7 keyed the victory, but a dozen other players provided meaningful contributions to a win over the first-place Cubs.
Rookie starter Shaun Anderson gave up three runs in five innings, but pitched out of a 3-0 count with the bases loaded against Cubs starter Alec Mills to keep the Giants within striking distance.
Left-hander Drew Pomeranz made his first relief appearance of the season and struck out four Cubs, retiring all six batters he faced. After losing his spot in the starting rotation, Pomeranz enjoyed a spike in velocity as his fastball consistently hit 95 miles per hour in Monday’s outing.
With closer Will Smith unavailable after pitching six times in the last 10 days, Sam Dyson secured his second save of the season and first since April 13 by stranding the tying run in scoring position.
An exhausted pitching staff gave the Giants a chance and the offense seized an opportunity in the eighth inning.
A Pablo Sandoval leadoff double gave the dugout hope. Crawford’s RBI single cut a 4-2 deficit in half. Before Slater’s RBI double landed just over the outstretched glove of center fielder Albert Almora, Kevin Pillar broke up a potential double play by beating out a throw on a fielder’s choice.
“He missed it by a couple of inches,” Slater said of his double. “It was way closer than I thought. He’s an unbelievable center fielder.”
The two-out game-tying hit gave way to Panik, who sent the first pitch rolling past third baseman Kris Bryant and underneath a leaping Dyson, who had his warm-up tosses temporarily interrupted in the Giants’ bullpen.
“These guys have been battling hard, grinding hard, it feels good to help them out and have a productive night,” Panik said.
The sample size on the team’s hottest stretch of the season is no longer small.
The Giants are 29-16 since June 1 and armed with two of the most important assets for a club that’s suddenly in the thick of a playoff race. They have a lights-out bullpen that’s helped the team go 23-10 in one-run games and a grind-it-out offense that isn’t fazed by any deficit.
It’s a daunting road ahead if the Giants hope to play October baseball, but the thought of making the postseason is no longer out of the question.
“We’ve got two months left,” Panik said. “We’re right in the thick of a Wild Card race. We’re about winning here and that’s really, truly what’s most important.”
