Giants crush Cubs with 18-run outburst

The San Francisco Giants unleashed one of their most explosive offensive performances of the season Friday, defeating the Chicago Cubs 18-3 in a rain-delayed series opener at Wrigley Field.

Matt Chapman powered the Giants’ attack with a career-high eight RBIs, highlighted by a grand slam and a three-run homer. Willy Adames and Casey Schmitt each added two home runs as San Francisco collected 19 hits and recorded its second-highest run total of the season.

The offensive surge continued a productive stretch for the Giants, who entered the game after scoring 12 runs in Milwaukee the previous day.

Chapman delivered the game’s biggest blow in the fourth inning. After Luis Arraez singled, Adames walked, and Bryce Eldridge reached with a single, Chapman launched the fourth grand slam of his career. Schmitt followed later in the inning with a two-run homer that stretched the lead to 8-0.

San Francisco had already taken an early advantage in the first inning when Arraez doubled with two outs, and Adames followed with a two-run home run against Cubs starter Edward Cabrera.

The Giants added another seven runs in the sixth inning. Adames connected for his second two-run homer of the game, his 11th of the season, before Chapman capped the rally with a three-run blast to put San Francisco ahead 16-0.

Rookie outfielder Jonah Cox added his first major league home run in the ninth inning as part of back-to-back homers with Schmitt, who increased his season total to 15.

Robbie Ray earned the victory for San Francisco, improving to 4-6 on the season. The left-hander worked five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and five walks while striking out four.

Ray picked up his first win since May 8 thanks to the overwhelming run support.

Cabrera absorbed the loss for Chicago after surrendering eight runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out six batters and walked one before being removed in the fourth inning.

The Cubs entered the game following a dramatic walk-off victory over the Athletics on Thursday, but struggled to generate offense until the sixth inning, when Carson Kelly delivered an RBI single.

Seiya Suzuki added a solo home run in the eighth inning, his ninth of the season, accounting for part of Chicago’s three-run total.

Arraez, Eldridge, and Rafael Devers each recorded two hits for the Giants, while Cox finished a perfect 3-for-3 after entering the game as a reserve.

For Chicago, Kelly and backup infielder Pedro Ramirez each collected two hits. The lopsided score forced the Cubs to use Kelly as a position-player pitcher late in the game.

The 18 runs matched the Giants’ second-highest scoring output in franchise history at Wrigley Field. Only a 19-3 victory over the Cubs during a doubleheader on July 4, 1961, produced more runs for San Francisco in Chicago.