SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Chapman hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Saturday for their fourth straight win.
All four of the victories in San Francisco’s streak have come by one run — after back-to-back one-run losses, each in 10 innings — and the past two have been walk-off wins, with the Giants beating the Braves 5-4 in Friday night’s opener to the three-game series at Oracle Park on a two-out wild pitch in the 10th.
In the bottom of the ninth Saturday, Heliot Ramos singled with one out against Braves reliever Pierce Johnson (1-3). Wilmer Flores popped up for the second out, but Chapman went deep to left field on a 1-1 count, getting his 12th home run of the season when Johnson’s 88 mph curveball came through the middle of the strike zone.
It spoiled a stellar start by Atlanta’s Bryce Elder, who allowed a run and three hits with no walks while striking out 12 batters in eight innings. The Braves have lost six straight games and are 3-13 since getting above .500 for just the second time this season after starting 0-7.
Their overall record of 27-36 puts them a season-worst nine games below .500 and currently ahead of only the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies in the National League. Atlanta has now lost six straight series and will try to avoid taking a second straight sweep in Sunday’s finale against the Giants.