Cubs Vs. Giants, Final Score: Soto’s 13th-Inning Home Run Leads Cubs Past Giants, 5-2

Geovany Soto belted a two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the 13th to lead the Chicago Cubs past the San Francisco Giants, 5-2, in the wild finale of a four-game series.

Earlier in the inning, the Cubs were down to their last strike before Jeff Baker lifted a double to deep center. Darwin Barney then slapped a 1-2 fastball into left and Baker scored to tie the game as Cody Ross’ throw sailed past home plate.

The Giants took a 2-1 lead a half-inning earlier on a two-out solo homer from Pablo Sandoval.

Aramis Ramirez, who recorded a pinch-hit, walk-off single in the Cubs’ 2-1 victory on Wednesday night, forced extras with a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the ninth.

Ramon Ramirez (2-1) surrendered four runs in the final inning to suffer the loss.

Following Barney’s game-tying hit, Ramirez intentionally walked Starlin Castro. The pinch-hitting Soto then strolled to the plate and worked the count full before driving a ball over the wall in left.

The Giants, who saw a season-high seven-game win streak come to an end on Wednesday, struck first in this back-and-forth contest.

Nate Schierholtz led off the second with a walk and was followed by a Brandon Crawford bunt. Carlos Zambrano fielded the ball, but threw it away attempting to get Crawford at first, allowing both runners to advance.

Miguel Tejada then sent a bloop single into short right. Barney chased hard, but could not execute the over-the-shouler catch, as the ball glanced off his glove and fell to the ground. Barney recovered quickly, however, snatching the ball off the hop and firing to the plate, but Schierholtz beat the throw with an aggressive slide.

Following a pitch to the next batter, Eli Whiteside, Zambrano gingerly walked off the mound and was tended to by trainer Mark O’Neal before departing for the dugout.

Marcos Mateo replaced Zambrano and proved effective, blanking the Giants over five innings, notching six strikeouts.

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