SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy knew he was potentially placing Tuesday night's outcome on the line at an unusually early stage: the fourth inning.
The Giants trailed by two runs when Bochy sent Pablo Sandoval to pinch-hit for starter Ty Blach with the bases loaded and one out. If Sandoval couldn't produce, Bochy would have to negotiate the final five innings without his starting pitcher and, possibly, with a two-run deficit.
But Sandoval made the move look good by smacking a two-run double past third base for the biggest hit in a four-run, fourth-inning uprising against Cincinnati starter Tyler Mahle.