San Francisco Giants defeat the Miami Marlins 5-2 in 11 innings

Michael Conforto and Mike Yastrzemski delivered crucial blows with two-run homers in the 11th inning, capitalizing on Devin Smeltzer's pitching, as the San Francisco Giants triumphed over the Miami Marlins with a score of 5-2 on Wednesday, effectively putting an end to their five-game losing streak.

Following the fourth inning, San Francisco's batting prowess seemed to wane, but the tide turned when Michael Conforto emerged as a pinch hitter in the eighth. Breaking the 1-1 tie, Conforto connected with a hanging curveball from Smeltzer (0-1), expertly sending it soaring over the right-center wall for his fourth home run of the season. Building on the momentum, Mike Yastrzemski followed suit, smacking a home run off an upward slider — his first homer of the year against a left-handed pitcher — and further stretching the lead to 5-1.

Reflecting on his impactful hit, Conforto stated, "My intention was simply to make solid contact and put the ball in play, not necessarily to achieve a home run. So, I'll aim to maintain that approach moving forward."

Conforto, who had been limited to pinch hitting in the five games prior due to a left calf strain, found himself back in action, assuming his place in the lineup after stepping in for designated hitter Darin Ruff.

"When your team is going through a bit of a rough patch, you're even more eager to contribute on the field," Conforto expressed. "Being part of a victory again feels really satisfying."

While Miami had clinched victories in six of their last seven games, their bullpen had impressively held opponents scoreless for 20 2/3 innings.

In the 10th inning, Camilo Doval (1-2) efficiently secured three outs despite strategically walking Luis Arraez and Jorge Soler. Demonstrating his prowess, Doval struck out Bryan De La Cruz and Avisaíl García, successfully quashing Miami's potential rally.

In the 11th inning, Jon Berti stepped up and connected with an RBI double off Sean Hjelle. As the game unfolded, Taylor Rogers came into play with two runners on base and just one out. He managed to strike out Jazz Chisholm Jr., but inadvertently hit Garrett Cooper with a pitch. With the pressure on, Rogers then faced Arraez, the reigning big league batting champion, and induced a groundout, sealing his first save of the year.

Miami struggled to capitalize with runners in scoring position, finishing the game 2 for 16 in that regard.

Reflecting on the opportunities that slipped by, manager Skip Schumaker commented, "We had our chances, and we had the right players up at the right moments."

On the Marlins' side, starting pitcher Trevor Rogers exited the game due to left forearm tightness shortly after Darin Ruff's RBI double in the fourth inning propelled the Giants into the lead. Rogers' performance saw him concede one run, three hits, and one walk across three-plus innings, accompanied by three strikeouts.

Regarding his decision to leave the game, Rogers explained, "I was feeling restricted in terms of extension, but given the stage of the season we're at, it didn't seem prudent to push further testing."

Cooper came through with an RBI single in the fifth inning against Alex Cobb. Cobb's performance on the mound was noteworthy, surrendering just one run and five hits during his five innings of work, while also striking out eight batters.

Reflecting on the pitching efforts of his team, Giants manager Gabe Kapler commented, "The entire pitching staff performed admirably. Though we encountered a few bumps, Cobb's presence was significant as he established a solid foundation. He consistently threw strikes, which was crucial."