Realmuto’s homer lifts Marlins over Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Sunday’s eighth inning was a study in contrasts as Miami’s J.T. Realmuto punctuated a 4-for-4 afternoon with a tiebreaking home run and San Francisco loaded the bases with nobody out yet did not score. The Marlins held on for a 5-4 triumph that denied the Giants a sweep of the three-game series.

Realmuto, who began the game batting .188 (9-for-48), victimized Giants reliever Josh Osich by delivering his first homer of the season to shatter a 4-4 deadlock. The Giants rallied in their half of the eighth against reliever David Phelps, who sandwiched walks to Brandon Crawford and pinch-hitter Denard Span around Gregor Blanco’s single. Phelps then coaxed Angel Pagan’s comebacker and turned it into a home-to-first double play. The right-hander ended the threat by slipping a called third strike past Joe Panik.

This was a tug-of-war disguised as a ballgame, as the teams endured three tie scores in the first six innings. Miami was led by Giancarlo Stanton, who homered in the fourth inning, and Dee Gordon, who singled twice and scored both times. For …

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