SAN FRANCISCO -- The heart-breaking Giants have suddenly become heart-stoppers -- and they hope that trend continues.
With their team on the ropes and getting a standing-eight count, trailing by five runs in the sixth, San Francisco fans didn't even bother to wear rally caps, while those rally seagulls were circling the outer bay at AT&T Park, looking for sustenance elsewhere.
Yet the Giants, facing their third straight loss and getting out slugged by the American League West-leading Oakland A's, turned on the offense, cranking out six runs down the stretch to topple the Athletics, 8-7, on Saturday afternoon.
What a finish it was, as Giants second baseman Ray Durham, struggling with an 0-for-4 day and missing a bunt attempt in the ninth, seconds later crashed a three-run homer off usually reliable A's closer Huston Street for the victory.
Slugger Barry Bonds, who was not in the original lineup -- he entered the clubhouse and literally ripped the card off the wall -- would add his muscle to the win, knocking a two-run homer in the first inning, doubling in a run in the seventh, then taking a walk in the ninth, moments after Mark Sweeney stroked a leadoff single.
In another fortunate twist, Durham was slated for a day off, but after hitting a triple and single on Friday night, manager Felipe Alou decided the veteran would play again instead of rookie Kevin Frandsen.
Durham made the move pay off, albeit belatedly.
"We needed a hit there, and I was looking for something I could drive," said Durham. "I kinda of figured [Street] wasn't going to throw me a fastball and was looking for a slider and got it -- I put a good swing on it and see what happened."
When Durham swung, back in the Giants dugout, Alou shuddered. All he called for there was for Durham to bunt, move the runners over, put Sweeney on third and Bonds on second -- simple, by-the-book baseball.
"Ray swung the bat real well -- he did last night -- but not today," said Alou. "I didn't want him to hit it, but bunt it. And then he didn't execute the bunt. That's two bad things right there -- a bad sign and no execution."
There would be no chastising from Alou, however -- he expects to start Durham again on Sunday in the series finale, let Frandsen wait some more.
"It was huge," said Durham of his hit and the Giants' comeback. "They walked Barry twice, and I take it personally. It's my job, when I'm hitting behind him, to protect him and keep them from taking the bat out of his hands.
"Doing it in the clutch that I did, it's a good feeling," said Durham of his first-ever Major League walk-off blast. "I hope it carries over to tomorrow."
Bonds wasn't in a mood to talk after the game, saying he "had stuff to do," but said he wanted to play Saturday because "we're off on Monday."
Oakland starter Dan Haren became the 425th pitcher to yield a homer to Bonds, who reached base five times, going 2-for-2 and walking three times, twice intentionally.
For Giants starter Jamey Wright, it appeared he would suffer his fifth consecutive loss -- he hasn't won since May 22 -- as he yielded eight hits and six earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. Admittedly, his mechanics are off, as in way off.
He was grateful, then, to see the Giants pull it out for his no-decision.
"It was nice coming back for that victory," said Wright. "Getting eight runs, I'd like to get a win rather than a no-decision, having to get that many runs to get me off the hook. The guys came up big today. It was a good win."
Wright said his arm angle has been dropping lately, and postgame videos confirmed it. Earlier in the season, the right-hander was being more aggressive in the strike zone, but he's been a bit off for the past few games.
"Hopefully, that little mechanical thing will get me back on track," said Wright, especially victimized by a pair of RBIs from both Dan Johnson and Mark Kotsay.
Giants catcher Todd Greene helped the cause, ripping a two-run single in the sixth off Haren to close the margin, then Bonds roped his RBI double in the seventh, scoring Omar Vizquel to make it 7-5.
The Giants faced long odds entering the bottom of the ninth, for they were only 2-33 this season when trailing after eight innings -- bad news.
And out came Street. The left-hander hadn't allowed a run in 12 of his 13 June outings and had converted 10 of 11 June save opportunities. Make that 10 of 12 now.
It was Sweeney -- 0-for-3 on the day with a strikeout -- chopping a single to center to open the frame.
"I was happy [about the single], because it puts a different scenario in his mind against Barry," said Sweeney. "That created an opportunity to win the game with one swing."
Bottom line, however, the Giants must build on the heart-thumping comeback, hopefully keep the momentum going. They have yet to have a winning streak beyond three games this season, and the midseason break is nearly here.
"We're all waiting on this team to click in a little bit," said Sweeney. "Beating a closer like that is impressive. That's a huge win for us."