Giants start challenging homestand with win over Phillies

SAN FRANCISCO -- After going 4-2 on the previous road trip through Pittsburgh and New York City, the Giants returned to Oracle Park with a tough homestand on tap: six games against two of the best teams in baseball, the Phillies and Yankees.

San Francisco kicked off the week on a high note in Monday's 8-4 win over Philadelphia. The Phillies, who own the Majors' best record at 38-17, were coming off a series loss to the Rockies and dropped back-to-back games for the first time since April 23-24.

For the Giants, it was a welcome turnaround from the first series between the two teams this season, when they were swept at Citizens Bank Park and outscored 29-11 from May 3-6.

One sour note on an otherwise successful day for the Giants was an injury to LaMonte Wade Jr. One of the Giants' most consistent contributors this season, Wade left the game in the fifth inning with a left hamstring strain. He will get an MRI on Tuesday, and manager Bob Melvin said Wade is "almost for sure" headed to the injured list.

After stringing together four wild comeback wins on the road last week, the Giants didn't wait until the late innings on Monday, taking the lead for good on a Patrick Bailey sacrifice fly in the fifth. Here are three keys to San Francisco's statement victory:

Bottom of the order comes up big

The final three batters in the Giants' lineup led the charge on offense against Phillies pitching, collectively going 5-for-11. Mike Yastrzemski, Heliot Ramos and Brett Wisely drove in two runs apiece to power the offense.

Wisely has been on a tear since getting more regular playing time at shortstop, and he improved to 9-for-20 (.450) through nine games this season.

"For us to succeed, we've got to get contributions everywhere," Melvin said. "When you have guys swinging well at the bottom of the lineup, you feel like every inning you come up, there's a chance to score."

Lessons learned for Snell

Blake Snell made his second start since returning from a left adductor strain last Wednesday and allowed four runs (three earned) across four innings, striking out a season-high seven batters. He departed before the Giants rallied to take the lead and is still seeking his first win with the team.

Throughout his career, Snell has consistently performed better in the second half, which he attributes to being able to learn from the beginning of the season. Since Snell didn't sign with the Giants until the end of Spring Training, he's been playing catch-up -- and his 10.42 ERA represents his worst five-game start to a season.

Prior to this year, Snell's highest ERA through his first five outings was 5.48 in 2023, when he got back on track in a major way and took home the National League Cy Young Award.

"I know my first month is always my worst month," he said. "I think we just keep learning and learning and learning. You want to start off hot and great, but it's not always going to be that way. … Late start and rushing to get back, then the injury -- it's been frustrating. No excuses. I should be ready, especially when I thought I did everything I could to be ready."

Rodríguez gaining trust

The Giants' bullpen locked down the win, with Randy Rodríguez, Erik Miller, Ryan Walker and Camilo Doval holding Philadelphia off the board in the final five innings.

Rodríguez, San Francisco's No. 27 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was the first man up and tossed two perfect innings on 16 pitches to earn his first Major League win.

"He's been really dependable and moved up … in the bullpen to where he's a guy we count on," Melvin said. "We've been getting some short starts here recently, which means he's in the game quite a bit. … There isn't anywhere we're not comfortable pitching him, at this point. Lefties and/or righties, he's throwing strikes with his stuff, he's going to get outs."

In eight Major League outings, the 24-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.76 ERA and covered multiple innings in six appearances. As it happens, both his debut and his first win came against the Phillies.

"It's a beautiful coincidence," Rodríguez said through interpreter Erwin Higueros.