Bruce Bochy envisioned a disappointing flight to St. Louis that might have been if San Francisco's mistake-filled funk had extended into another day against the Oakland Athletics. Pablo Sandoval hit a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth, Barry Zito delivered another timely victory to end a six-start winless stretch, and the Giants beat the Oakland Athletics 5-2 on Thursday to avoid a season sweep in the Bay Bridge Series.
