By Janie McCauley | The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — Wilmer Flores hit a go-ahead, two-run triple in the seventh inning of the Giants’ 6-4 win Thursday that sent the Mariners their second home defeat played in San Francisco’s ballpark because of dangerous air quality in Seattle.
The series was moved to the Bay Area from Seattle because of smoke from West Coast wildfires.
The nomadic Mariners headed to San Diego for three more “home” games at Petco Park beginning tonight as that series also has been moved south due to poor air quality.
Darin Ruf homered in the second inning to back Giants starter Tyler Anderson, who hurt his own cause when he was ejected in the bottom of the third by plate umpire Edwin Moscoso for emphatically expressing his displeasure with a walk to Kyle Lewis.
Wandy Peralta followed Anderson and threw 49 pitches over a career-high three innings, and Rico Garcia (1-0) worked one inning for his first major league win. Sam Selman finished for his first career save, stranding two runners when Kyle Lewis lined out and Kyle Seager flied out.
JP Crawford hit a two-run single in the second following RBI singles by Tim Lopes and Phillip Ervin, but Seattle’s bullpen couldn’t hold a three-run lead.
Seattle lefty Nick Margevicius was staked to an early lead but Kendall Graveman (0-3) couldn’t hold it. The Mariners capitalized in the second after Anderson hit Seager in the backside.
Brandon Crawford contributed a sacrifice fly and Evan Longoria and Alex Dickerson RBI singles for the Giants.
Austin Slater returned at designated hitter for San Francisco and went 0 for 2 with a walk as he works back from a painful right elbow. Luis Basabe singled in the sixth for his first career hit.
Smoak, not Smoke
Former Mariner first baseman Justin Smoak made his Giants home debut as a pinch hitter in the sixth facing his former club after he signed a minor league deal earlier this month following his release by the Brewers.
Trainer’s room
Mariners left fielder Dylan Moore was in the lineup and batted second a day after getting hit in the head by a pitch. He did some pregame work to make sure the Mariners didn’t need to make a last-minute change. Moore told manager Scott Servais he wanted to play. “Personal experience I’ve had it happen to me. As a player you kind of think nothing can hurt you. It’s a mental thing you get in there, you battle, you go get up there ready to get your next hit,” Servais said. “That’s what you’re thinking. You kind of put it behind you and move forward.”
Acquired
Seattle acquired minor league right-hander Matt Brash from the Padres to complete a trade that sent right-hander Taylor Williams to San Diego on Aug. 31.
Seattle LHP Yusei Kikuchi (2-3, 5.35 ERA) pitches the opener vs. San Diego.