Giants homer twice in the 10th to beat A's 4-2 in Bay Bridge Series finale

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Jerar Encarnación and Michael Conforto hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the 10th inning, lifting the San Francisco Giants to a 4-2 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday in the finale of the Bay Bridge Series.

Heliot Ramos also connected to help the struggling Giants to their second victory in seven games.

Encarnación lined the first pitch he saw from Dany Jiménez (1-3) over the fence in right-center to snap a 1-all tie. Matt Chapman, the automatic runner at second base, also scored.

Conforto followed with a pinch-hit drive as a crowd of 32,727 at the Coliseum — many of them wearing Giants colors — roared in approval.

“Don’t you expect a game like this to end this place and the series between the Giants and the A’s?” said Giants manager Bob Melvin, who managed the A’s from 2011-21. “It almost had to happen like that. We were trying to manufacture a run however we could. Didn’t look good for a while but then a couple big swings that we’ve been missing ended up winning the game for us. And they didn’t go quietly.”

Oakland scored an unearned run in the bottom of the 10th and had the bases loaded with no outs. Ryan Walker (8-3), recently elevated to the closer role for the Giants, struck out the next three batters, including Shea Langeliers to end it.

“I feel more calm when (the bases are) juiced,” Walker said. “Once that happened, I wasn’t worried. I just focused on making my pitches.”

When the game was over, Giants third baseman Matt Chapman asked for and received one of the bases used at third. Chapman spent his first five seasons in the majors playing for the A's at the Coliseum.

“That was pretty cool,” Chapman said as he walked through the clubhouse.

The A’s are scheduled to play the next three years in Sacramento before a planned move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season.

The abrupt ending followed a pitching duel between San Francisco ace Blake Snell and Oakland lefty JP Sears.

Nearly three weeks after throwing his first career no-hitter, Snell was dominant in his first start against the A’s since 2021. He allowed six hits and one run to go with 10 strikeouts in seven innings. It was the fourth time in Snell’s last five starts that he reached double digits in strikeouts.

“I’m pitching the ball good, locating the fastball,” said Snell, who has a 1.03 ERA over his last eight starts. “Everything’s starting to come together.”

Sears, the most effective A’s starter over the last six weeks, had nine strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. He yielded seven hits and one run.

Encarnación and Tyler Fitzgerald each had two hits for the Giants, who were shut out by Oakland 2-0 on Saturday.

“It was a great two days,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “Both of these games were exciting. It’s a fun way to (end) the Bay Bridge Series, even though we ended up losing.”

Ramos hit his 18th home run leading off the seventh against Sears. The drive traveled an estimated 448 feet and had an exit velocity of 110.5 mph.

The A’s scored their lone run off Snell in the sixth.

Daz Cameron and Brent Rooker singled with one out. Cameron scored on Miguel Andujar’s two-out single just before right fielder Mike Yastrzemski threw out JJ Bleday at third.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: RHP Randy Rodríguez (elbow inflammation) is being shut down for a few weeks, but Melvin is hopeful the reliever will pitch again this season.

Athletics: RHP Austin Adams (forearm tendinitis) was placed on the 15-day injured list and Jiménez was reinstated from the IL.

UP NEXT

Giants: LHP Kyle Harrison (6-5, 4.14 ERA) pitches the series opener against the Chicago White Sox on Monday in San Francisco.

Athletics: RHP Joe Boyle (2-5, 7.39) faces the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. Boyle has 35 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings this season.

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Oakland Athletics pitcher JP Sears throws to first base for an out against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

Oakland Athletics pitcher JP Sears throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski (5) is tagged out by Oakland Athletics shortstop Max Schuemann, front left, while attempting to steal second base during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, top, tags out Oakland Athletics' JJ Bleday, bottom, who slides into third during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay, center, argues with home plate umpire Emil Jimenez (82) during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Francisco Giants' Mark Canha cracks his bat while hitting against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Francisco Giants' Jerar Encarnacion celebrates after his two-run home run as he runs home against the Oakland Athletics during the tenth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Francisco Giants' Jerar Encarnacion celebrates after his two-run home run as he runs the bases against the Oakland Athletics during the tenth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Matt Wallner homered for the second straight game, Brooks Lee snapped an 0-for-19 stretch with a go-ahead, two-run double and the Minnesota Twins beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-4 on Wednesday night.

Royce Lewis nearly had his sixth career grand slam for Minnesota in the seventh inning, as his drive to left field was initially called a home run but a review showed that the ball hit off the top of the wall and back into play for a two-run double.

Wallner’s 13th homer of the season into the bullpens in left-center field tied the game after Los Angeles’ Taylor Ward led off the game with his 23rd homer. Willi Castro had an RBI single to snap an 0-for-16 skid during a three-run fourth inning for Minnesota.

The Twins have back-to-back wins after losing six of their previous seven games. They remain six games behind Cleveland in the AL Central. Minnesota is two games behind Kansas City and three ahead of Detroit for the final AL wild-card spot.

Nolan Schanuel had his 13th homer of the season among three hits, and Jordyn Adams added his first career homer for Los Angeles, which has lost four of five.

Rookie starter Jack Kochanowicz (2-5) allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings for the Angels. He entered the game with five consecutive quality starts since being recalled on Aug. 10 for his third stint in the majors.

Minnesota rookie Zebby Matthews started and allowed two runs in just 3 1/3 innings. Cole Sands (7-1) pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief.

Jhoan Duran surrendered three hits in the ninth, including an RBI single by Schanuel, but secured his 23rd save.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: INF Brandon Drury left the game in the fifth inning with left hamstring tightness. … Manager Ron Washington said OF Bryce Teodosio sustained a small finger fracture on a bunt attempt a night earlier, but Washington said Teodosio is expected to avoid a trip to the injured list.

Twins: OF Manuel Margot was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing 10 games with a right groin strain. ... C Christian Vázquez was also reinstated from the paternity list. ... C Jair Camargo and utility player Michael Helman were optioned to Triple-A St. Paul.

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP Sam Aldegheri (1-1, 2.45 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday as Los Angeles returns home for a series against the Houston Astros, who have not announced a starter.

Twins: After an off day, Minnesota hosts Cincinnati for a three-game series starting Friday. RHP Bailey Ober (12-6, 3.77) will start the first game for the Twins. The Reds haven’t announced a starter.

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Olympian Sarah Bacon, left, throws the ceremonial first pitch as olympian Regan Smith watches before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

First responders and military members stand with wreaths in remembrance of 9/11 before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

First responders stand with a wreath in memory of law enforcement officers lost on 9/11 before of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz reacts after a solo home run by Minnesota Twins' Matt Wallner during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins' Matt Wallner celebrates while running the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)