SAN FRANCISCO -- On a Sunday afternoon full of prodigious Giants performances that generated a 13-8 victory over the Minnesota Twins, Buster Posey's production still was notable.
Posey was among four Giants who went 3-for-5 to help the club end a five-game AT&T Park losing streak. He also drove in a season-high four runs, at least temporarily silencing the skeptics who claimed that his relative lack of run production made his lofty batting average seem hollow.
Posey generated scoring when the Giants needed it -- that is, in three of his first four at-bats, when San Francisco's confrontation against the American League Central leaders remained close.
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Posey's groundout to the right side delivered a first-inning run that helped the Giants score twice and jump ahead. After the Twins established a 5-3 edge, Posey smacked an RBI single off former batterymate Chris Heston to reduce the difference to a single run.
Posey then lashed a two-run double, which put the Giants back ahead, 6-5. He victimized veteran reliever Matt Belisle, off whom Posey is batting .375 (6-for-16) lifetime.
Posey, who has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, also singled and scored in San Francisco's five-run eighth. His efforts increased his batting average from .341 to .347. He has 23 RBIs, including 10 in his last seven games.
"Very clutch" was how Giants right fielder Hunter Pence described Posey, a four-time All-Star who has led fan balloting at his position to start in the Midsummer Classic. "He's been playing outstanding, getting unbelievable at-bats and working behind the plate.
"It's really remarkable to me. You can see we're going through a tough start. You find out what people are made of in tougher times, and he's just unbelievable. Character, skill, everything."
Posey explained his offensive approach in the same simple terms he has employed all year.
"Just be ready to hit," he said. "And if [the pitch is] not there, take it, ideally."