Balk of the town: SD wins in weird way

Balk of the town: SD wins in weird way

July 17th, 2016

SAN DIEGO -- After blowing a three-run lead and surrendering a go-ahead solo homer to in the top of the 10th, the Padres rallied in the bottom of the inning to tie the game before walking off on a balk, 7-6, with runners on first and third and no outs.
scored the tying run after leading off with a single, while casually trotted to the plate a few moments later to give San Diego its fourth extra-inning victory of the season.
Casilla's front (left) foot inadvertently scraped the sloping dirt portion of the pitcher's mound as he threw the first pitch to .
"That's what caused the balk," Casilla said through interpreter Erwin Higueros.
Trying to avoid the balk, Casilla released a 62 mph pitch as he staggered. But that stutter-step violated the rules, Giants manager Bruce Bochy explained.
"He looked like he was discombobulated," Bochy added.
• Bochy reluctant to make change at closer
"It's anticlimactic right?" said , who drove in Dickerson with a single through the left side of the infield. "It's a huge win for us, but [we're] used to seeing Melvin Upton Jr. hit a homer and we're celebrating at home, but any way we can take it -- especially off of a great team like the Giants."
Padres manager Andy Green said that was the first time he'd been a part of a balk-off, but admired the way his team battled throughout the game to create the opportunity for the wild ending.
"You know, we kept fighting, all the way to the end," Green said. "Put ourselves in positions to score repetitively and didn't get it done until the 10th, and we did it off their closer. So it was a heck of a way to finish."

The second game of the series featured six home runs in total between the two teams, including the first of the season for and a pinch-hit homer from -- both in the sixth inning. San Francisco starter surrendered homers to and and lasted five innings after giving up five runs (four earned) and walking a season-high four batters.
San Diego starter surrendered eight hits and was forced to work around baserunners in each of the 4 2/3 innings that he was on the mound. Giants left fielder hit a two-run homer off the Rule 5 pick in the third, and Posey's RBI double in the top of the fifth ended the outing for the 23-year-old.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
He can walk, too: Known mostly for his speed both in the field and on the bases, Padres center fielder showed the ability to get on base without swinging Saturday, drawing a pair of walks, including one to lead off the first inning and help San Diego get on the board. Jankowski's 16.3 walk percentage is the highest he's had in any professional season and the best walk rate on the team.
"He effectively scored our first run on his own today," Green said. "Takes a walk, moves over on Wil [Myers'] walk, steals third base and comes home on the throw into left field by Posey." More »

Power's on full blast: The Giants entered the game with 75 home runs, the Major Leagues' second-lowest total. Yet their comeback from a 5-2 deficit revolved around the long ball. San Francisco matched its season high of four as Pagan, Williamson, Pena and Posey, who hit his first career extra-inning homer, went deep.
"A lot of good things happened," Bochy said.

Good job, actually: Until Casilla squandered the Giants' 10th-inning lead, their bullpen distinguished itself. , , and combined to pitch four scoreless innings. Suarez overcame three walks and a pair of hits allowed.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW
The Giants successfully challenged a second-inning call on Jankowski, who was ruled safe on a dash to first base. A replay review resulted in the call being overturned.

The Padres also challenged a play involving Jankowski, after he was called out attempting to steal second base in the bottom of the sixth inning. Replay officials determined the call stands after not being able to definitively say that Jankowski reached the bag before being tagged.

San Francisco got the better of it in the seventh inning, when Pagan was called out on a grounder to shortstop. The Giants claimed that Pagan was safe at first, and after a replay review, he was. The original ruling was overturned.

WHAT'S NEXT
Giants:, who still is nagged by the virus that bothered him when he started last Tuesday's All-Star Game for the National League, will start Sunday's 1:40 p.m. PT series finale at Petco Park. Saturday, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Cueto felt well enough to pitch.
Padres: will get the promotion from Triple-A El Paso to start Sunday's finale against the Giants. The 32-year-old has struggled this year in the Minors -- a 7.02 ERA through 16 2/3 innings -- but Green said he is confident his stuff can still play at the Major League level.
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