SAN FRANCISCO _ Ryder Jones was a 13-year-old high school freshman in Stillwater, Okla., when Barry Bonds broke the all-time home run record. No.756 probably happened after the kid's bedtime.
Could you imagine telling a 13-year-old this fortune? That he would reach the major leagues, wear a San Francisco Giants uniform, hit his first home run 10 years to the day that Bonds passed Hank Aaron, and that Bonds would be in the stands applauding him?
That was how events unfolded for the rookie Monday night. Jones set off the steam cannons when his two-run shot found the arcade in the sixth inning, but the Giants needed more in a 5-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Prior to Jones' shot, the Giants went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position _ and their one hit didn't drive in a run. They created constant traffic against Jake Arrieta but allowed the right-hander to escape each time. And unlike last October's NL Division Series, the Cubs didn't have to spring a comeback against the Giants bullpen.
Javier Baez raced around the bases with an inside-the-park home run in the second inning and the Cubs took advantage of Matt Moore's wildness to score five runs in the left-hander's six innings.
It was a much different start for Moore than Game 4 of that NLDS, when he pitched masterfully while holding the Cubs to two hits in eight innings only for the Giants' season to end with a four-run storm in the ninth.
This is not the same Moore and these are not the same Giants. Moore (3-12) entered Monday with a 5.80 ERA, the Giants were 6-16 in his starts and his $9 million contract option for next season has fallen from a sizzling steal to a somewhat open question.
Moore hasn't won since June 20, although he has pitched better of late. His six innings Monday night were a mix of mistakes and weirdness on the bases.
Baez hit a drive to the deepest reaches of right-center, an area with angles and nooks that remain unfamiliar to Carlos Moncrief. The ball took a hard carom away from the rookie right fielder. Baez motored around third and Moncrief, who was drafted as a pitcher, made the crowd gasp when his 300-foot heave to the plate made it a bang-bang play.
It was the 10th inside-the-park home run in 18 seasons at AT&T Park, and the first since Kelby Tomlinson hit one in 2015. Baez became the fourth visitor do accomplish it, counting the one that All-Star Game MVP Ichiro Suzuki so memorably hit in 2007.
The Cubs added to their lead in the third when Jon Jay singled and advanced the rest of the way on a deep fly out and a pair of wild pitches. Moore allowed two more runs in the fifth on RBI singles after the Cubs advanced to second base on a wild pitch and a steal.
The Giants had an easier time getting into scoring position. They hit three doubles in the first four innings against Arrieta, including two from Jarrett Parker. They even had runners at the corners with no outs in the fourth after Brandon Crawford doubled and Jones singled. But Moncrief struck out and Moore grounded into a double play.
They broke through in the sixth after Pablo Sandoval's double eluded a sliding effort from Jay in left field. Arrieta doubled up on a slider and Jones dug it out, hitting a screamer that had enough loft to find the bleachers atop the 25-foot brick wall in right field.
Jones had rejoined the Giants on Aug. 3 and collected two hits in his first game against the A's, but was 0 for 10 with six strikeouts in the three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Nevertheless, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he would remain committed to giving Jones everyday playing time, either at third base, first base or an outfield corner.
Bochy even said he would start Jones against left-handed pitchers, although he might choose to shield him from tougher matchups.
The Giants added a run in the seventh when Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward dropped Denard Span's fly ball for a two-base error and Joe Panik followed with an RBI single.
Matt Cain relieved Moore and threw three shutout innings to give the Giants a chance, but they could not complete the comeback.
