Nothing happened for seven innings. Then everything happened at once. San Francisco trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth and needed two swings to end it, getting back-to-back solo home runs from Rafael Devers and Victor Bericoto to beat Oakland 2-1 on Wednesday night at Oracle Park.
Bericoto's blast — a 445-foot shot to center — was the final blow, his go-ahead homer giving SF the lead it would not relinquish. The 23-year-old finished 2-for-4 with 1 RBI on the night, carrying a .227 average with 2 home runs and 2 RBI on the season. Devers set the stage moments earlier, tying the game at 1-1 with his own solo shot to center, his 12th home run of the year. He went 1-for-4 with 1 RBI.
Oakland had taken the lead in the eighth when Max Muncy homered to center, a 416-foot shot that broke a scoreless tie and gave the Athletics a 1-0 advantage. Muncy went 1-for-3 with 1 RBI, his fifth home run of the season. That lead held until Devers answered in the ninth, tying the game at 1-1, and Bericoto followed immediately to complete the walkoff.
Elvis Alvarado absorbed the loss, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits in 0.2 innings, falling to 3-3 on the season with a 6.20 ERA. Oakland's Gage Jump had been sharp through five innings — 9 strikeouts, 0 runs, 3 hits allowed over 5.0 innings — but did not factor in the decision. For SF, Tyler Mahle gave the Giants length, working 5.2 scoreless innings on 70 pitches, allowing 2 hits and striking out 4. Erik Miller earned his first win of the season, working a scoreless inning in relief.
San Francisco improved to 32-46 with the victory, snapping a recent skid. Oakland dropped to 38-41, extending its losing streak to three games.