Major League Baseball

Finally over: Giants fail to beat Cubs after winning protest

Published Aug. 21, 2014 9:21 p.m. ET

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This gives new meaning to a win that was a long-time coming for the Chicago Cubs.

After two days, the first upheld protest in nearly 30 years and another rain storm, the Cubs finally completed a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in a suspended game on Thursday night.

Including delays — 1 hour, 57 minutes Thursday — the game lasted 9:21.

"It was an interesting day today," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "We got more weather."

Anthony Rizzo's two-run homer Tuesday held up as the teams played the final 4½ innings of a game the Cubs thought they had won 2-0 before Major League Baseball ruled it was suspended.

In the middle of the fifth inning Tuesday, a short rainstorm caused a delay of more than 4½ hours after the grounds crew couldn't put the tarp down quickly. The umpires said the field was unplayable and called it at 1:16 a.m.

But the Giants protested, and MLB ruled that the tarp had not been properly put away after its previous use. The game was suspended.

Then it rained some more on Thursday.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who expressed his frustration on Tuesday, was satisfied with how the game played out.

"It was a little bit of a strange one with the suspended game today," said Bochy, who added, "You know, they got it right."

It was the first successful protest in MLB since 1986.

For the Cubs, who supported the Giants' protest, it felt good to win without grounds crew assistance.

"I'd be lying to you if I didn't tell you that we wanted to close it out," Renteria said. "Everyone did everything possible to get it in. "

Joe Panik had an RBI single in the sixth to pull the Giants to 2-1, but they were unable to scratch another run across against the Cubs bullpen.

Tuesday's starters proved to be the pitchers of record. Tsuyoshi Wada (3-1) earned the victory for the Cubs, while Ryan Vogelsong (7-9) took the loss.

Hector Rondon worked a scoreless ninth for his 19th save in 23 opportunities, putting runners on first and second before ending it by stopping Angel Pagan's comebacker with his foot.

In the nightcap, the original scheduled game, Buster Posey went 4 for 4 with his 14th homer, leading Madison Bumgarner and the Giants to a 5-3 victory.

Pablo Sandoval added three hits and two RBI, while Bumgarner (14-9) struck out 12 in seven innings. He allowed three runs and seven hits.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Edwin Jackson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right lat strain. Jackson dealt with a similar injury at the end of last season and hopes that by going on the DL now, he will be able to pitch again in September. ... SS Starlin Castro was placed on the bereavement list after leaving the team for a family emergency. Bereavement list rules require a minimum stay of three days and a maximum stay of one week.

Giants: INF Ehire Adrianza has been a slow to recover from a second strained groin injury, which raises doubts about his status in the final weeks of the season. "He's not ready yet, so that's another decision we'll have to make," Bochy said. ... Bochy was optimistic that 1B Brandon Belt and C Hector Sanchez would recover from concussions in time for the stretch drive.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Tim Hudson (8-9, 3.03 ERA) faces off with Washington RHP Doug Fister (12-3, 2.20 ERA) as the Giants take on the Nationals on Friday in the opener of a weekend road series.

Cubs: RHP Jake Arrieta (6-4, 2.61 ERA) faces his former club when Baltimore comes to Wrigley Field for a weekend series. RHP Kevin Gausman (7-4, 3.70 ERA) goes for the Orioles.  

FRIENDLY GESTURE

Bochy expressed gratitude to Cubs officials for their attempts to play the game in its entirety. Chicago's support might have played a role in the Giants' successful protest. "I don't know for a fact, but I think so because they were for finishing the game today," Bochy said. "I give my compliments to (president) Theo (Epstein) and their organization."

KONTOS GETS THE CALL

Earlier Thursday, the Giants recalled relief pitcher George Kontos from Triple-A Fresno to serve as the 26th man in the regularly scheduled game. He will return to the farm club after the game. 

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