SAN FRANCISCO - The Giants had a losing record on this homestand. They dropped two heartbreakers against the Astros, got blown out one night, and looked half-asleep after Barry Bonds had his number retired.
But they still have Dereck Rodriguez, and on Sunday that was just enough to end the week on a high note. Rodriguez threw seven more dominant innings, bolstering his Rookie of the Year case and leading the Giants to a 4-3 win over the Pirates.
The Giants finished 2-4 on the homestand. Here's what you need to know from the finale …
--- Rodriguez has made five starts in the second half and pitched at least six innings in each of them. He has allowed five total runs. On Sunday he gave up an early run but ended up once again getting through seven dominant frames, lowering his ERA to 2.25 and WHIP to 1.00.
--- Steven Duggar hit a leadoff single in the third and cruised home when Nick Hundley smoked one into Triples Alley. The triple was just Hundley's second in two years as a Giant. The Giants failed to get Hundley home.
Sports
--- A heads-up play by Gorkys Hernandez gave the Giants their third run. Hernandez was on first when Steven Duggar reached on an infield single to the right side. As Joe Musgrove argued the call at first, Hernandez alertly raced to third. He scored when Hundley hit a ball off third baseman Colin Moran's glove.
--- The bullpen nearly gave up an 11-3 lead on Friday. Two days later, Reyes Moronta and Tony Watson teamed up to give up a couple of runs in the top of the eighth. The Pirates got the tying run to second, but Gregory Polanco flied out.
--- Shoutout to Lucy Mirigian, who was celebrated on the scoreboard after the fourth inning. Lucy turned 112 on Sunday.
