Span's four RBIs plenty for Bumgarner in win

Span plates two more 0:24

Denard Span plates Eduardo Nenez and Joe Panik with a single to right before being tagged out trying to advance to second

SAN FRANCISCO -- Madison Bumgarner shut down the Orioles for seven innings and finally got some assistance from the Giants offense, as San Francisco bounced back from a series-opening loss to beat Baltimore, 6-2, at AT&T Park on Saturday night.

The Giants' offense benefited from a pair of RBI singles from Denard Span, who drove in four runs, as well as a two-run home run from Brandon Belt in the seventh as they tallied more runs than in their three previous games combined. And a night after the Orioles smashed 11 hits against Matt Cain, Bumgarner yielded just three while striking out eight.

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"He's as advertised," Orioles outfielder Adam Jones said. "He's one of the best pitchers in the game. He threw a heck of a game."

Bumgarner's scoreless start

BAL@SF: Bumgarner fans eight over seven scoreless

Madison Bumgarner strikes out eight over seven scoreless frames, allowing three hits and three walks to earn his 11th win

"Timely hitting is what wins ballgames for you, and of course good pitching, and Bumgarner threw a beautiful game," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

Orioles starter Kevin Gausman experienced a much more taxing start. He labored through four innings, surrendering a season-high six walks and allowing two runs despite giving up only two hits. The Orioles bullpen, which entered Saturday with an American League-best 3.13 ERA, allowed four runs in the latter half of the game.

Gausman's nine strikeouts

BAL@SF: Gausman fans nine in four frames

Kevin Gausman strikes out nine batters through four innings of work, holding the Giants to two runs

The Giants are still clinging to a one-game lead over the Dodgers in the National League West. The Blue Jays regained a half-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East thanks to Baltimore's loss and Toronto's 4-2 win over the Astros.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Coming through: The Giants' offense hasn't offered much help to Bumgarner since the All-Star break, scoring one run or less in three of his last five starts. But thanks to a two-run single from Span with two outs in the second inning, San Francisco jumped out to an early lead for its ace Saturday night. Span's hit came two at-bats after Joe Panik hit a ground-rule double with Hunter Pence on first. Span hit another two-out, two-run single in the sixth, as the club won a game in which Bumgarner started for the first time in six outings.

"Span picked me up both times; that was big for us," said Bumgarner, who struck out and grounded out preceding Span's hits.

Span's two-run single

BAL@SF: Span sends a two-run single to center

Denard Span opens the scoring with a two-run single to center, scoring Hunter Pence and Joe Panik in the 2nd inning

Leaving them on base: Chris Davis was caught looking at strike three with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. It's not just Davis. Mark Trumbo fouled out, Manny Machado flied out and Nolan Reimold grounded out all with runners in scoring position. The Orioles stranded eight runners. More »

Breaking the slump: Panik recorded his first multi-hit performance since returning from the disabled list Saturday. He hit a pair of ground-rule doubles and a single as he finished the night 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. The Giants second baseman entered Saturday 6-for-46 in 13 games since coming off the DL and was desperately in need of a performance like the one he had.

"When you come back, you're trying to find your way, and I think the past couple games I felt like it was coming," said Panik. "Today everything clicked." More »

In the pinch: Ryan Flaherty, hitless in seven previous at-bats, delivered a two-run single with two outs in the ninth to extend the game and force the Giants to bring in closer Santiago Casilla, who needed one pitch to secure his 27th save.

Casilla notches save

BAL@SF: Casilla throws one pitch to record 27th save

Santiago Casilla enters the game and throws one pitch to secure his 27th save and the Giants' 6-2 victory

QUOTABLE
"You don't strike out nine guys and walk six without having good stuff." -- Gausman

UNDER FURTHER REVIEW
The umpires went to review a rule after Jones, attempting to bunt, was ruled out on a 1-3 groundout in the sixth inning. The check was in reference to a possible hit-by-pitch when the batter offers at the pitch. The play was non-reviewable.

"It hit my finger and it hit my knee. That's what I know for certain," Jones said. "The ruling and the language, I don't really know."

Jones out after review

BAL@SF: Jones out after a rules check

Adam Jones is ruled out after the umpires get together and conduct a rules check in the 6th inning

WHAT'S NEXT
Orioles: Wade Miley will make his third start as an Oriole in Sunday's series finale at 4:05 p.m. ET. He's yet to win for the Orioles, though he has thrown effectively enough to keep the team in the game. He lost his last game, though it was a quality start.

Giants: Johnny Cueto will take the mound Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT looking to regain the form that made him a 2016 All-Star. The first-year Giant is 0-2 with a 5.02 ERA in five appearances since the break.

Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.

Justin Wise is a reporter for MLB.com based in the Bay Area.

Rick Eymer is a contributor to MLB.com and covered the Orioles on Saturday.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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