Exorcise your demons

Giants 8, Angels 3

The first eight innings were the Giants as they have been. Feeble with the bat, the worst offensive team in baseball for weeks.

The ninth inning, though, was an exorcism. Six runs. Four hits with runners in scoring position, including Patrick Bailey's go-ahead double.

If only for one inning, the Giants cured what's ailed them for much of this summer. They got The Big Hit. Several of them.

It was shaping up to be a gut punch of a game. Luis Matos's lackadaisical play in center led to a run. No. 3 hitter AJ Pollock fell down in right. Joc Pederson was robbed of a game-tying home run to end the eighth.

Then came ninth, and everything changed. It can happen just that fast.

Up next: Lucas Giolito (6-8, 4.36 ERA) makes his second start for the Angels. The Giants will counter with yet another bullpen game. First pitch at 6:38 p.m.