- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Bumgarner, Giants maintain Wild Card lead
- Updated: October 1, 2016
SAN FRANCISCO — The emotionally charged atmosphere at AT&T Park on Friday night resembled that of a postseason game, which it essentially was for the San Francisco Giants.
Forced into must-win mode by victories for the Mets and Cardinals, the teams surrounding San Francisco in the National League Wild Card race, the Giants stunned the Los Angeles Dodgers with seven runs in the sixth inning, including three on Brandon Belt’s home run, and proceeded to a 9-3 triumph.
The Giants (85-75), with Madison Bumgarner pitching 7 1/3 solid innings for his 100th career victory, maintained tentative control of the NL’s second Wild Card berth. The Mets (86-74) lead the Wild Card standings, one game ahead of the Giants and two up on St. Louis (84-76).
The Giants can clinch a Wild Card berth Saturday if they win and St. Louis loses.
“We’re on a mission right now,” said Giants left fielder Angel Pagan, who made his most solid contact when he body-slammed a fan who invaded the field in the fourth inning and smothered him until the proper authorities arrived.
The loss left the Dodgers two games behind the Nationals for the home-field advantage in the NL Division Series with two games to play. If the Dodgers win both remaining games and the Nationals lose both remaining games, the Dodgers would open at home because they hold the tiebreaker after beating Washington in the season series, 5-1.
The Dodgers scored twice off Bumgarner in the first inning and took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth before the seven-run bottom half, which included Conor Gillaspie’s go-ahead, two-run double and Bumgarner’s two-run double.
“Madison is like our guy,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, comparing him to his ace, Clayton Kershaw. “Even when doesn’t have his best stuff, he finds a way to go deep into games. You always have your hands full with him.”
Rich Hill, the Dodgers’ Game 2 starter in the postseason, allowed two runs in five innings. Six of the seven runs in the …
