Think he's healthy? Buster back with two HRs

After a two-game absence due to a left elbow contusion, Buster Posey returned to the lineup with a vengeance and notched the fourth multi-home run game of his career, leading the Giants to a 10-7 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night.

“I got to see him when he was at his best, and he’s right back there. He hasn’t really missed a beat,” said Alex Dickerson. “He’s getting to pitches that quite frankly I don’t see many people get to them. Zack Wheeler is as good as they get in MLB and he took him deep twice so hey, I would say Buster’s back.”

Down 4-0 in the top of the fifth inning, the Giants were looking for a spark. With no outs, Wheeler delivered a 90.4 mph slider and Posey launched it 428 feet to center to give the Giants a jolt. After a Darin Ruf walk, pinch-hitter Tommy La Stella hit a towering fly for a two-run shot, bringing the Giants within one. Posey added his second homer of the game in the sixth inning before a six-run eighth gave San Francisco a 10-6 lead.

“We have 2020 as an example of what kind of offense we can be. I think it's fair to say we were at least a good team offensively. And I think we added to that. We added one of the better hitters in baseball in Tommy La Stella,” said manager Gabe Kapler. “So with that and understanding most of our guys are in the 40 to 60 plate appearance range, I just feel like it's more ‘when’ not ‘if’ this team is going to start to produce offensively."

Posey had been out of the lineup since taking a 90-mph changeup off the left elbow from Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara on Saturday. The 34-year-old entered Tuesday’s game with a .265/.342/.441 slash line, including two home runs. Tuesday's three-hit performance doubled his home run total and he picked up another hit, legging out an infield single.

“I thought his swings were great and he had a lot of confidence from the moment he stepped in the batter’s box today. He had mentioned that he felt good and was ready to go. When he talks about how he’s feeling and how he’s doing, I trust it,” Kapler said. “It’s not easy to turn around the fastballs that he turned around and it was impressive.”

Posey’s two homers -- his fourth career multi-home run game and first since 2016 -- were just two of the Giants’ five dingers on the night, including two in the decisive eighth inning. With Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt on base, Dickerson crushed a fly ball to deep right-center field to make it 7-6, giving the Giants their first lead of the game.

“Really encouraged by Dickerson’s step forward today. He’s dangerous, he hit right in the middle of our lineup last year against righties in the two and the four hole,” said Kapler. “We can put him anywhere in the middle of the lineup and feel good about him against righties.”

The Giants quickly added on. Wilmer Flores capped a six-run eighth inning with a three-run homer of his own to give the Giants a commanding 10-6 lead. It was Flores’ sixth career pinch-hit homer and first since 2018.

"I thought we did a nice job of coming back and obviously it feels good to have a series win. Now we have to get ready for tomorrow ... and it's gonna be a tough one. I'm already kind of turning the page to tomorrow's game," Kapler said.