As awful as the San Francisco Giants have played for most of the last month, they are back in an enviable position: first place in the NL West.Oakland Athletics' Jason Hammel, right, speaks with pitching coach Curt Young and catcher Derek Norris in the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Wednesday, July 9, 2014, in San Francisco.Oakland Athletics' Jason Hammel follows through on a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 9, 2014, in San Francisco.San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, left, chases Oakland Athletics' Craig Gentry in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. Crawford tagged out Gentry in the rundown between second and third base.San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy, right, congratulates Gregor Blanco (7) after Blanco scored against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 9, 2014, in San Francisco. Blanco scored on a single by Joe Panik.