SAN FRANCISCO - When Madison Bumgarner went down at the end of spring training, all the Giants could have realistically hoped for was a chance to compete when he returned. They wanted to stay afloat in the NL West, and they've done it.
Monday night's 10-3 win got the Giants back to .500. They're an even 30-30 with their best player set to return Tuesday night, and they're just 1 1/2 games out of first place in what has turned out to be a weak division.
The Giants have at times looked poised to slip out of a lackluster race, but they found a groove at the right time. Monday's win was the fifth straight and included contributions from all over. The Giants trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, but Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Crawford went back-to-back, igniting a seven-run rally.
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-- A few hours after the Giants drafted a catcher with their highest pick in 33 years, Buster Posey showed how much he's got left in the tank. Posey singled in the first and scorched a two-run double into the gap in the fourth.
-- Among the groups that are better this year: The bench. Alen Hanson came off the pine to hit a big two-run double in the fourth and Pablo Sandoval, playing in place of Brandon Belt, hit a solo homer an inning later. Sandoval had three hits. Nick Hundley hit a solo shot in the ninth.
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-- Reyes Moronta struck out two in an inning of work. In his last 12 outings, he has allowed just one run and struck out 17.
-- Derek Holland struck out the side in the first and was headed for a good outing before Ketel Marte lined a two-run double in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, Holland's spot came up with the bases loaded. Bochy opted to play the Hanson card. It worked perfectly, even if it cost Holland a shot at the win.
