SAN FRANCISCO —
Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer in San Francisco’s nine-run fourth inning and the Giants beat the Angels 13-6 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.
The Giants’ struggling bats woke up in a big way in the fourth inning to turn a 2-0 deficit into a big lead in a bullpen game for both teams. That gave 29-year-old Spencer Bivens the victory in his long-awaited debut in the majors.
José Suarez (1-2) faced five batters in the fourth and didn’t retire any of them, getting replaced after giving up back-to-back two-run doubles to Thairo Estrada and Brett Wisely.
Matt Chapman added a run-scoring infield single before Soler broke the game open off Hunter Strickland with his eighth homer of the season to make it 8-2. Austin Slater added an RBI single to cap San Francisco’s most productive inning at home since scoring 10 runs in the fourth inning against Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, 2008.
Bivens was the beneficiary of the big inning after getting called up from triple-A Sacramento earlier in the day to replace injured Kyle Harrison. Bivens began his professional career in France and was toiling in the independent leagues before being signed by the Giants two years ago.
He made it to the big leagues 12 days before his 30th birthday and pitched three innings in relief of Erik Miller. He gave up only one hit, a solo homer by Nolan Schanuel, and struck out four batters to get the win.
Austin Slater hit a solo homer in the seventh for San Francisco.
The Angels scored four runs in the ninth against closer Camilo Doval.
Etc.
Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo left in the fourth inning because of a bruised left wrist after getting hit by Chapman’s hard grounder that went for an RBI infield single. … Second baseman Brandon Drury (hamstring) and first baseman Miguel Sano (knee) could return from rehabilitation stints this week. … The Angels return home Monday to open a three-game series against Milwaukee with José Soriano (4-5, 3.48 ERA) starting against Carlos Rodriguez (0-1, 4.91).