SAN FRANCISCO — Before first pitch Friday night, the San Francisco Giants’ in-game stadium host made a declaration.
“This,” he informed the crowd in a scoreboard address, “is the most important game at Oracle Park this season.”
In a 5-1 walk-off win over the Dodgers, the Giants certainly played that way, punctuating the night with Patrick Bailey’s grand slam off Tanner Scott in the bottom of the 10th.
After selling off key pieces at the trade deadline and languishing seven games under .500 just three weeks ago, the Giants have miraculously catapulted themselves back into the playoff picture, winning 14 of their last 18 to pull within a half-game of the final National League wild-card spot.