San Francisco

Top 5 San Francisco Giants Moments: Week 3

After a dismal second week of baseball where the San Francisco Giants went 1-6 in their first two home series of 2015, they bounced back.

The Giants started Week 3 of the baseball season against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers limping. But despite all odds, San Francisco swept the Los Angeles team who had won seven-in-a-row coming in. The weekend ended for the Giants with a thrilling, extra-inning win against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Here are the top 5 Giants moments from Week 3 of the season.

1. Justin Maxwell's Catch Against the Wall

The Giants may have found a new Dodger killer. Before hitting a monster home run in the eighth inning, he made an amazing running catch on a foul ball off the bat of Yasiel Puig. At the time, Puig could have done major damage. With the Giants up 4-1 in the game, the Dodgers had two runners on with only one out--but Maxwell dashed the hopes of L.A. with a dandy play. Even Puig had to applaud Maxwell for this play.

2. Maxwell's Game-Winner to Sweep LA

Maxwell had a series to remember against the Dodgers. In addition to making defensive gems, he also came through in the clutch. After winning the first two games of the series, the Giants looked to sweep the Dodgers out of San Francisco. The Giants tied the game in the ninth on a triple by Brandon Crawford. But Maxwell finished the job in the 11th.

3. Joe Panik's Game-Winning Bunt at Coors

Coors Field has been a house of horrors for the Giants ever since it opened in 1995. With the game tied at 4 in the top of the 11th inning Saturday night, the Giants tried an alternative scoring method at the home run-prone Coors Field. Although it's probably more suited for the pitcher-friendly AT&T Park, Joe Panik's squeeze bunt pushed across the winning run for San Francisco.

4. Brandon Crawford's Game-Tying Triple vs. LA

Before Maxwell could complete the sweep of the Dodgers in the 11th inning, they had to come back in the ninth first. Down 2-1 Thursday, Casey McGehee led off the inning with a single. Then, AT&T Park erupted when Brandon Crawford delivered a crushing blow to the rivals in blue.

5. World Series Mirror Image Double Play

In Game 7 of the 2014 World Series, it was Panik who made the diving stop and flipped to Crawford, who then fired to first for a big double play. On Tuesday against the Dodgers, it was just the opposite. Crawford made the diving stop, shoveled to Panik, who threw to first to double up the runner. And both plays at first were under replay review. Each time, the challenges turned out in the Giants' favor. The stakes weren't as high against the Dodgers, but still a potentially game-saving play nonetheless.

Follow Vince on twitter @Vince_Cestone

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