The San Francisco Giants took advantage of three nights in a row that the Padres beat the Dodgers – the perfect outcome. The NL West leaders have won eight of nine, are a season-high 22 games over .500, with the best record in the majors at 48-26 and a four-game lead over the Dodgers.

The two games in Anaheim were very different, but showed the Giants’ resiliency and adaptability both in-game and across series. I am beginning to trust Gabe Kapler more. He should be given credit for being observant and willing to adjust. He wants to win series and shows it by making significant changes before and during games.

Giants 5, Angels 0

Yet another shutout. The Giants lead the league in shutouts with 10. In game one, DeSclafani didn’t allow a hit after the second and retired 18 of the last 19 batters he faced. He was dominant against the phenom Shohei Ohtani, striking him out thrice! It was the first time Ohtani had ever been struck out three times in a game in his young MLB career. Desclafani is now (8-2).

Wilmer Flores went yard for the second game in a row after his two at Oracle against the Phillies on Sunday. Dubon added a homer, while Posey and Belt chipped in RBIs.

Giants 9, Angels 3 in 13 innings

The Giants won an extra innings game! The are now (4-5) in those. But this one was crazy. Kevin Gausman and Shohei Ohtani pitched brilliantly to a 1-1 tie through six.

Ohtani struck out nine over his six innings, Gausman yielded four hits and had nine strikeouts over seven strong innings, trading zeros with Ohtani and lasting an inning longer. Both starters gave up runs only on solo homers in the fifth.

But this thing got crazy in extras, with neither team able to get ahead for three frames until finally the Giants exploded for six runs in the top half of the 13th. Nutty game. Go read a summary of how this one ended.

The Athletics come to Oracle for a Bay Bridge Series this weekend and then we are off to LA again for two and Arizona for four before coming home again for a stand.

NL West

Giants 48-26

LAD 44-30

SDP 45-32

The Giants still have the best record in baseball and lead the majors in home runs.