SAN FRANCISCO -- Take one glance at the box score from the Giants' 12-3 win over the Rockies on Tuesday night and it's easy to identify how a breakout performance like that occurs.
The heart of the club's batting order was productive. The two-through-five hitters combined for 11 hits and seven RBIs, setting the stage for the club's best offensive performance of September.
"You saw it tonight," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "When those guys come through for you, it's a different game."
Brandon Belt almost hit for the cycle while batting from the two-hole for just the second time this season. Buster Posey and Hunter Pence hit back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth inning. And Brandon Crawford showed he can be plenty productive with a damaged left pinkie, recording two triples as part of his four-hit night.

That type of effectiveness was contagious, and by night's end, every starter besides pitcher Matt Moore recorded a hit and scored a run.
This is the same club that entered the final homestand of 2016 with the fewest runs (84) and the worst batting average (.220) in the league this month. Breaking out offensively one night isn't the club's problem. Delivering quality at-bats on a daily basis has proven to be a bigger issue.
Can a night like this be a signal for what's to come?
"It's my hope it is something they can build on," said Bochy, adding that the club clearly responded to seeing both the Mets and Cardinals each score 12 runs Tuesday. The Giants remained a half-game behind the Mets and a full game ahead of the Cardinals in the National League Wild Card standings.
Posey simply said, "I hope so," when asked a similar question.
As Bochy has said many times, there's a clear difference when players like Belt, Posey, Pence and Crawford are contributing. They produced in a big way to open their final homestand Tuesday, and the Giants kept pace in the Wild Card race because of it.