AP

Royals end Giants’ 5-game winning streak, 3-2

Jun 15, 2022, 3:58 AM | Updated: 8:35 pm

Kansas City Royals' Andrew Benintendi, right, is congratulated by Michael A. Taylor after scoring a...

Kansas City Royals' Andrew Benintendi, right, is congratulated by Michael A. Taylor after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)


              Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr., left, scores against San Francisco Giants catcher Curt Casali during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada throws to first base on a single hit by Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              San Francisco Giants' Brandon Belt, right, is congratulated by third base coach Mark Hallberg (91) after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Kansas City Royals left fielder Hunter Dozier, from left, third baseman Emmanuel Rivera (26) and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. watch as a single hit by San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford lands during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              San Francisco Giants' Thairo Estrada runs home to score against the Kansas City Royals during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield hits sacrifice fly that scored Andrew Benintendi during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Kansas City Royals third baseman Nicky Lopez (8) catches a popup by San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford next to catcher MJ Melendez during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Kansas City Royals' Andrew Benintendi, right, is congratulated by Michael A. Taylor after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Whit Merrifield broke a 2-2 tie with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly and the Kansas City Royals edged the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Andrew Benintendi led off the inning with a pinch-hit double off Giants reliever John Brebbia. Nicky Lopez moved him to third on a sacrifice bunt and Merrifield brought him home.

“That’s kind of how you’d want to draw up an inning like that,” Benintendi said. “Nicky laid down a great bunt and Whit got the job done with the sac fly.”

Added Royals manager Mike Matheny: “It’s just textbook baseball. It was beautiful to watch.”

Brandon Belt homered for the Giants, whose five-game winning streak ended.

Kansas City jumped ahead in the first inning when San Francisco shortstop Brandon Crawford, a four-time Gold Glove winner, made a rare fielding error on a slow chopper by MJ Melendez, allowing two runs to score.

“(Crawford) is such an excellent defender most of the time,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “I think that ball just kind of jumped up on him a little bit. It’s part of the game. It happens. It’s human error.”

Belt answered with a solo home run to right-center in the fourth, his fifth of the season and first since April 20. Curt Casali tied the game at 2 with a sacrifice fly later in the fourth.

Jose Cuas (1-0) entered with one out in the seventh and retired three batters to earn his first career victory. The 27-year-old converted infielder had toiled in the minors for six years before making his big-league debut earlier this season.

“It’s amazing,” Cuas said. “It’s more than I’ve ever dreamed of. I can’t really tell you I’ve dreamed of this moment because I didn’t get this far in my dream. But it’s amazing. I’m soaking every second of it I can and every day for me is just a dream come true.”

Scott Barlow recorded the last five outs for his seventh save in eight opportunities as Kansas City snapped a four-game losing streak.

Brebbia (3-1) suffered his first loss since July 18, 2021 as the Giants finished their longest homestand of the season at 6-3.

San Francisco went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

SHORT STARTS

Neither starting pitcher reached the fifth inning. Royals RHP Jonathan Heasley allowed two runs on five hits in four innings, striking out four and walking two. Giants LHP Sam Long surrendered two unearned runs on three hits in three innings with two strikeouts.

MILESTONE MAN

Crawford played in his 1,500th game, all with the Giants. The Bay Area native became the fifth player in the San Francisco era to play at least 1,500 games with the Giants, joining Willie McCovey, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds and Jim Davenport.

“It’s a pretty short list and those are great players,” Crawford said. “So definitely really cool to be on that list with them.”

Crawford finished 1 for 4 with a single.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Zack Greinke (right flexor strain) is nearing a return from the injured list after an impressive rehab start Sunday at Triple-A Omaha. Greinke threw 49 pitches in five scoreless innings. He might need one more rehab appearance to stretch out his pitch count.

Giants: OF LaMonte Wade Jr. (left knee inflammation) threw on the field before the game. Kapler is optimistic he can begin a rehab assignment this weekend. … Casali returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury.

UP NEXT

Royals: Open a three-game series at Oakland on Friday. The Royals will play six of their next nine games against the Athletics.

Giants: Travel to Pittsburgh to begin a seven-game trip on Friday.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Royals end Giants’ 5-game winning streak, 3-2