Gilbert's three RBI and 11th homer lift Giants past Twins 5-2

SAN FRANCISCO - Drew Gilbert put three runs on the board before the fifth inning was over, and the San Francisco Giants finally stopped a short skid.

Gilbert went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI as San Francisco beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Monday night at Oracle Park, snapping a three-game losing streak to open its season-ending homestand. Per ESPN's box score, he scored twice, struck out once, and did not walk.

The Associated Press and CBS Sports credit him with a two-run single in the second and a leadoff homer in the fifth - his 11th of the season.

The Giants (65-92) needed the night. They had been swept by the Dodgers over the weekend in Los Angeles and entered Monday with just two wins in their previous nine games. Minnesota (73-84) managed only four hits.

Early runs, then the solo shot

Brett Harris singled home two runs in the first after Bo Davidson singled and stole second in his major league debut. Gilbert had opened the game with a single, then drove in Osleivis Basabe and Christian Koss with his two-run hit in the second for a 4-0 lead, the AP reported.

Brooks Lee answered with a leadoff homer in the fourth against Blade Tidwell. Tidwell exited one batter later with elbow discomfort and is scheduled for tests Tuesday, according to the AP. Tristan Beck (1-0) took over and threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the win - no hits, no walks, one strikeout on 32 pitches. ESPN's box matches that line.

Gilbert led off the fifth by homering to right against Zebby Matthews, pushing the lead to 5-1. Emmanuel Rodríguez later homered in the eighth for Minnesota's second run. Trent Harris finished the ninth for his second save.

Matthews punches out nine, still loses

Matthews (9-11) struck out nine without a walk over five innings but allowed five runs on eight hits. It was his second-highest strikeout total of the season, behind a 10-strikeout outing July 31 at Seattle, the AP noted. Sam Hentges, Jason Foley, and Trent Harris each worked an inning after Beck to complete a four-hitter by the Giants' staff.

Davidson's first-inning single and steal made him the first Giant to get a hit and steal a base in a major league debut since Red Tramback on Sept. 15, 1940, per the Associated Press. The debut subplot sat beside Gilbert's night rather than replacing it - Gilbert supplied the bulk of the offense.

Homestand continues Tuesday

Right-hander Anthony Molina (3-1, 4.18 ERA) is lined up opposite Minnesota's Taj Bradley (11-6, 3.81) for Tuesday's middle game of the series, per ESPN's probable pitchers. The homestand wraps later this week against the Dodgers. Gilbert's three-hit, three-RBI night gave San Francisco a cleaner start to that stretch than the weekend in Los Angeles afforded.

Sources

ESPN

ESPN

CBS Sports

CBS Sports