It was ugly, it was fun, it was a win

When you're struggling to score runs, it's nice to grab some early. That doesn't mean you're gonna cruise, but at least it makes things interesting.

"Interesting" was a kind word for the lunacy that transpired but a win is a win, and that's exactly what the Giants got with Monday's 11-5 win over visiting Milwaukee.

They're gonna need a kayak to catch this one. (Getty Images)

The return of Matt Cain turned out to be anticlimactic as the big right-hander failed to get out of the fourth inning. Brewers starter Chase Anderson lasted longer but fared worse as both teams found inventive ways to score (and not) in a game more suited for SyFy or Comedy Central than CSN.

At 39-26 the Giants have survived their stumble from last week, winning their last three and pushing their NL West lead over the Dodgers back to six games. LA dropped its third in a row, getting shaved 3-2 at Arizona by old friend Zack Greinke.

Denard Span opened the scoring  quickly, leading off the Giants' part of the offensive game by getting one wet. Splash Hit number 70, the first ever from a Giants' lead-off man, gave the home team a jolt and a 1-0 lead. There was more.

Joe Panik launched one that was a homer anywhere else but a triple beside the bay. No matter, Brandon Belt followed with an RBI single and the Giants had needed just 10 pitches to grab a 2-0 edge. Anderson went through the 4-5-6 with no further damage but San Francisco had the "mo."

A thing about momentum: it's no match for luck and charity. In the Milwaukee third Cain may have been squeezed a bit but didn't do himself any favors. 

After two quick outs Milwaukee loaded the bases and tallied twice without hitting a ball out of the infield. In fact, both runs scored without the Brewers putting a ball in play as Cain walked in the pair. In each case ball four was an easy take but Pitch-FX would disagree with umpire Kerwin Danley on several calls earlier in those counts. It took 30 pitches for Cain to finish the frame, and when it was done the game was tied 2-2. 

Of course, talent plays a role, and the Giants have some. Span went small ball, opening the Giants third with a bunt single, Panik used the snug zone for a free 90 feet, and Buster Posey ripped a one-out double to give San Francisco the lead again. Duffy followed with sac fly to chase home Panik, and the Brewers' uprising had been negated.

Both starters were victims of Danley's stinginess. After three innings Cain had thrown 62 pitches; Anderson 66.

Nights like this will give you a migraine.

Luck, talent, momentum: at some point you stop searching for any of them and just hope to survive. Cain couldn't get the  needed shut-down inning, giving up a walk, single and two-out RBI double that cut the lead to 4-3 and marked Cain's exit. George Kontos finished the inning with a grounder to third but what started off looking like a triumphant return for the longest-tenured Giant ended prematurely.

Albert Suarez, who had been the temp for Cain while injured, pitched a nine-toss fifth but the good feelings didn't last. Jarrett Parker botched Aaron Hill's fly ball to start the sixth and Ramon Flores slapped a ball off the first base bag. Both went for doubles and the score was tied 4-4.

Now this game defied all reason so of course the Giants bounced right back. Posey drew a lead off walk (natch) from reliever Corey Knebel, Duffy singled Posey to third, and Brandon Crawford's deep fly to left re-established the one-run lead. A chance to add on was wasted when Duffy stole second and took third on Jonathan Lucroy's wide throw, but Parker and Suarez strikeouts were sandwiched around a semi-intentional walk.

Six innings down, 5-4 good guys. Just run-of-the-mill stuff, right? The weirdness would continue.

The Giants blew it open in the seventh. They loaded the bases against hard luck Blaine Boyer with three straight two-out singles: a blooper and two balls that never left the infield. Crawford and Gregor Blanco followed two-run hits, Crawford's with a broken bat, and suddenly San Francisco lead 9-4.

There was still drama to be had. Milwaukee got to Suarez in the eighth on sac fly, and he left with two out and a runner at first. Josh Osich walked the only guy he faced, leaving Derek Law to face slugger, noted jerkand potential Giant Ryan Braun with the tying run on deck. Purity, and 95-MPH gas, won the battle.

Suarez got the win and certainly put himself at the front of the line for the post game buffet. He and Cain each threw 3 2/3 innings and gave up five hits. Cain aided the three runs scored against him with five walks. Suarez allowed two, one due to a misplay, and did not walk a batter.

The Giants added two more in garbage time and Law mopped up the ninth.

San Francisco clubbed 14 hits, Lee by three each from Span and Duffy. The top six batters in the order hit safely, and the first five all had more than one knock.

The Giants look for four in a row on Tuesday, sending ace Madison Bumgarner (7-2, 1.88 ERA) into battle against veteran Matt Garza, who makes his 2016 debut after sitting out 2 1/2 months with back issues.

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