- Associated Press - Saturday, May 20, 2023

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants scored three runs in the sixth following a throwing error by Miami pitcher Sandy Alcantara, offsetting another big night by the majors’ leading hitter Luis Arraez, and beat the Marlins 4-3 on Friday night.

Mitch Haniger had two hits including an RBI double as the Giants won their fourth straight.

“We needed to kind of send the message that we could hang in there, and the only way to do that is to get one or two big hits,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “That first one from Hani, I think, set the tone for our offense that this is something that we could accomplish.”

Bryan De La Cruz homered and drove in three runs for the Marlins. Arraez singled twice, doubled and scored, raising his average to .388 with his 17th multi-hit games this season.

Miami manager Skip Schumaker and catcher Jacob Stallings were ejected in the ninth inning after Stallings stood up and began walking to the mound.

San Francisco’s J.D. Davis was facing a 3-2 count but umpires called ball four for a violation on Stallings not letting them know he was going to the mound.


PHOTOS: Giants rally against Alcantara in 6th, beat Marlins 4-3


“He turned to me and was saying something about the clock,” crew chief and home plate umpire Marvin Hudson said. “He didn’t tell me right away he was going to the mound, so that’s ball four because of the 3-2 count. When he called time and didn’t tell me right away he was going to the mound, that turned into a violation.”

There was a brief delay as both managers emerged from the dugouts, and all four umpires conferred before Davis was awarded first base.

“J.D. Davis was not engaged. For me, Stallings was trying to call timeout to show that he was not engaged,” Schumaker said. “It would be a strike. He was trying to call timeout. He’s allowed to call time out, to go run out to talk to the pitcher. He wasn’t granted it. And then we saw the umpire call time out with his hands up. He said he called the timeout. And that was the disagreement, and it was still ball four.”

The Marlins were in good shape until San Francisco rallied in the sixth to chase Alcantara, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner.

Alcantara walked LaMonte Wade Jr. to open the inning then gave up an infield single to Thairo Estrada. Alcantara made a barehanded grab of the ball close to the third baseline but his throw to first bounced into foul territory as the pitcher bent at the waist in frustration.

J.D. Davis and Michael Conforto followed with sacrifice flies to give the Giants the lead. Hot-hitting rookie Casey Schmitt, batting .417 since being called up May 9, added an RBI single to make it 4-2.

“Solid at-bats one through nine, and put pressure on pitchers, especially if you want to beat good arms,” Haniger said. “It’s really a team thing. It’s not just hoping for a big hit from one guy. It’s grinding pitchers down and making them throw strikes and being a tough out.”

Scott Alexander (4-0) retired two batters to get the win, and Tyler Rogers got the last four outs for his second save.

Alcantara (1-5) retired the first seven San Francisco batters and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth. Winless since April 4, the right-hander walked three and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings.

“I’m tired of letting that (stuff) happen to me,” Alcantara said. “I’ve just got to find a way to be more aggressive every time when I’ve got a lead.”

All three of Arraez’s hits came against Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani. The former Marlin, who made his major league debut with Miami in 2014, struck out six and allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Giants led 1-0 in the fourth when Conforto reached on an infield single then scored with a headfirst slide after Haniger lined a double to the gap in left-center.

The Marlins went up 2-1 on De La Cruz’s two-run double that extended his career-high hitting streak to 13 games.

De La Cruz hit his fifth home run off Taylor Rogers in the eighth.

MOVES

Giants: OF Cal Stevenson was designated for assignment. … C Patrick Bailey and RHP Ryan Walker were called up from Triple-A Sacramento.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Johnny Cueto (right ankle sprain) played catch while rehabbing in at the team’s minor league complex in Jupiter, Fla. … RHP Nic Enright is schedu led to pitch four innings at Jupiter on Saturday. … LHP Trevor Rogers (left biceps strain) will throw a 35-pitch bullpen this weekend. … LHP A.J. Puk (left elbow nerve irritation) has been playing catch up to 90 feet. … OF Avisail Garcia (back tightness) is continuing his rehab and is doing plyometric work. …. RHP Max Meyer (Tommy John surgery) is continuing his throwing program and is playing catch up to 120 feet.

Giants: RHP Ross Stripling was placed on the 15-day Injured List with low back pain. … C Joey B (left groin strain) was put on the 10-day IL. … OF Heliot Ramos was called up from Triple-A Sacramento and put on the 60-day IL (right oblique strain).

UP NEXT

Giants RHP Logan Webb (3-5, 3.20 ERA), unbeaten in three starts in May, tries to keep that streak going Saturday afternoon. Marlins LHP Braxton Garrett (`1-2 ,5.20) lost in his only start against the Giants on June 5, 2022.

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