Home Run in Ninth Beats Cubs

Pinch-hitter Candy Maldonado’s two-run homer off Lee Smith with two outs in the ninth inning rallied the San Francisco Giants to a 6-5 victory Tuesday over the Chicago Cubs.

Maldonado, batting for winning pitcher Greg Minton, hit a 1-0 slider over the left field wall for his fifth home run of the season. Smith, 2-3, gave up a single to Bob Brenly, who left for pinch-runner Luis Quinones, before Maldonado homered.

Minton, 2-2, pitched one inning. Bill Laskey, the fifth Giant pitcher, worked the final inning for his first save.

Ron Cey’s two-run single capped a five-run eighth that Gary Matthews triggered with two-run homer as Cubs came back from a 4-0 deficit.

Scott Garrelts had a three-hit shutout going into the eighth when Shawon Dunston singled and scored on Matthews’ second homer of the seasn.

Garrelts departed and Jeff Robinson came in to give up singles to Ryne Sandberg and Keith Moreland.

Mark Davis relieved Robinson and Davey Lopes, batting for Leon Durham, bunted. But Davis threw wild past third as Sandberg scored with Moreland going to third and Lopes to second on the error.

Cey greeted Minton with a single to score the tying and lead runs.