Marlins blanked by Giants in rubber game

MIAMI — Hits didn’t need to come in bunches for Brandon Crawford on Wednesday afternoon at Marlins Park. All the San Francisco shortstop needed was one swing to make the difference, as his home run to lead off the fourth inning was enough for the Giants to edge the Marlins, 1-0, and take two of three in the series.

Crawford was the hero in both wins for the Giants. On Monday, in an 8-7 win in 14 innings, he slapped out seven hits, but unlike Wednesday, none left the ballpark. Giants right-hander Jeff Samardzija kept the Marlins under control, scattering three hits with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. With Miami threatening with two on and two out in the sixth inning, left-hander Will Smith relieved Samardzija and struck out pinch-hitter Chris Johnson looking.

Miami right-hander David Phelps, making his second start since joining the rotation after pitching in relief, threw five innings, allowing just the Crawford homer in the fourth. He exited after a season-high 91 pitches, retiring Buster Posey on a grounder to second with two on in the fifth.

The Marlins, 2-0 winners on Tuesday, closed out the series by going 17 straight innings without scoring. Santiago Castilla picked up his 26th save.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDCrawfully good: After tying the National League record with seven hits on Monday, Crawford may have needed a hitless day Tuesday to recharge the batteries. The Giants shortstop added two more hits Wednesday and finished the series 9-for-16. His homer was his 11th of the season and boosted his season RBI total to 71, third most among Major League shortstops behind only the Rockies’ Trevor Story (72) and the Astros’ Carlos Correa (74).

Shark bait: Although his …

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