Post-season

This was on the MLB homepage:

 

ESPN has the schedule:

 

Check the link for the rest of the games.

--M.C.

It's Over

SD 5  SF 4

The Giants were done after that bone-crushing loss in the final inning on Friday night. Yesterday they showed some spunk but not enough to challenge for a win, and today they fought back gamely but could not conjure up the victory they needed. They had some fine individual efforts over the last two days, but they did not have the team-wide x-factor they needed to finish strong, especially against a much more talented club. I had one goal for this team: improve. But, I had a yardstick: play .500 ball. They didn't measure up, but they certainly improved. I think FZ, Kap, and the players deserve a lot of credit for exceeding expectations and playing meaningful games until the bitter end.

And it was a bitter end. On Wednesday the Giants found themselves in an unexpected place: in charge of their post-season destiny. I didn't write much about the team's post-season chances because even at their highest point I considered them slim, and I viewed a seeding in the tournament as a bonus, not a goal. Alas, they really were close--they really did have a strong chance. In fact, all the other teams helped them out today--a win would have assured them a playoff spot! But that loss on Thursday set them back. Despite a great effort in the double-header on Friday they came out with another brutal defeat, a real shoulda-coulda-woulda kinda game. As I said at the top, I think that finished them.

The Giants had to play 26 games against three of the best teams in baseball this year, the A's, the Dodgers, and the Padres. They were 7-19 against them, a .269 percentage! They were 22-12 (.647) against the rest of their opponents and finish 29-31 or a .483 mark. That's better than 2019 (.475), 2018 (.451), and 2017 (.395) Those were full 162-game campaigns so I know it's not an entirely fair comparison, but I'm looking for improvement.

If you want to be a good team, you have to play better against other good teams, and that's an obvious goal for next year. But we'll talk about next season later. This season was weird, of course, but I'm really happy we got to have a season at all. Sports without fans in the stands is bizarre, but I'll enjoy the post-season even if I won't follow it too closely. I'll certainly watch the World Series.

I suspect lots of things will be different about baseball going forward. I suspect we'll have lots to talk about in the coming months. As always,

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

One More Chance

SD 6  SF 2

The Giants have one more game to play, one last chance to finish the season with 30 wins and a .500 record. After last night's brutal loss the team was perhaps a bit down and didn't play with the spark they needed. The lineup could not get anything going early on and when they finally did rally in the 8th they could not get the big hit. The Padres win for the seventh time in nine games against the Giants this season.

The team is clearly gassed. San Diego is flying high and rolling into the post-season as one of the top-seeded clubs. It is not a good matchup. That being said, Drew Smyly gets a chance tomorrow afternoon at 12:05 Pacific and the boys just might have one last fight in them. I'd like to see a nice nine-run outburst, wouldn't you?

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

p.s. Mike Yastrzemski gets the Willie Mac Award and I think it was an easy pick and certainly well-deserved.

Split

SF 5  SD 4

SD 6  SF 5

The Giants got a great start from Tyler Anderson in the first game and took a 5-1 lead into the final frame (the 7th!). The Padres rallied for three runs, aided by some poor umpiring, but Tony Watson hung on and saved a big win. Watson was charged with an error when he hit Manny Machado with a throw. Machado was not in the running lane and should have been out, but the umps missed it. In the end it didn't matter and the Giants were able to get it done. But plays like that should be reviewable, or at the very least the home plate umpire should be forced to get a second opinion--there's no excuse for that. They paint the lines on the damn field for a reason! The lineup did its damage in the 4th with homers from Mike Yastrzemski and Wilmer Flores.

In the second game the Giants were down 3-2 in the 6th but rallied behind a massive three-run homer from Wilmer Flores off Drew Pomeranz to take a 5-3 lead. Those were the only runs Pomeranz has allowed this season. Unfortunately the Padres once again rallied in bottom of the 7th for three runs, and this time it was enough to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Sam Coonrod was the victim, giving up a three-run homer to Trent Grisham, adding another brutal loss to the season's tally. The Giants managed a split but it sure felt like they should have pulled off the sweep. Two things of note: the Padres were the home team in Game 2 as it was a make-up game from the postponement in San Diego, and Jeff Samardzija started for the Giants, likely his last appearance in orange-and-black.

29-29 with two games to play, Saturday at 6:15 p.m. and Sunday at 12:05 p.m. (PDT).

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

The one that got away

COL 5  SF 4 (11)

Feels like the Giants have suffered more than a few brutal losses in this strange, truncated season, and today was certainly one of those. You can't mess with the baseball gods. If you get chances and continue to blow them they will make you pay. The Giants had the matchup they wanted with Kevin Gausman against Chi Chi Gonzalez. They jumped on him for two runs in the 1st but it felt like it could have been four, and they added another in the 2nd that felt like it could have been three. Missed opportunities! The lineup should have chased Gonzalez but he hung around and kept the Giants to three runs in 5-1/3 IP. Meanwhile the Rockies kept harassing Gausman with long counts and plenty of singles and he finally departed after six with a 3-2 lead. The bullpen couldn't hold it and it was 4-3 Colorado in the 8th but Brandon Belt tied it with a homer. Finally, in the 10th, the Giants held the line and did not allow the magic runner to score, but could not get it done in the bottom half despite a splendid opportunity. In the 11th the Rockies scored and held the line against the Giants and that was that.

It was a big chance for the home squad but a determined opponent and the wrath of the baseball gods did them in. Doubleheader with the Padres tomorrow, first game at 4:10, the second at 7:10 p.m. Pacific.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

Another clutch win

SF 7  COL 2

The Giants employed the opener tonight, using Caleb Baragar in the 1st inning, and he went 1-2-3, but gave up a double to start the 2nd. Then they used Logan Webb. He produced a serviceable 5-1/3, facing danger in every frame, but got the team into the 7th allowing only two runs. Power from an unlikely source--a three-run blast from Mauricio Dubon--had given the Giants the lead in 5th and they never looked back. They tacked on two more in the 8th and rode the 'pen to another big win. Tyler Rogers picked up the last two outs after Webb, Tony Watson handled the 8th, and Sam Selman finished it.

Brandon Belt's three hits brought his career total to 999 and his RBI in the 8th made it 1,000 for his career. Alex Dickerson also had three hits--he's slugging .606! Evan Longoria added a solo shot and walked twice, and added some sterling fielding at the hot corner. Steven Duggar rather than Jaylin Davis got the call-up and responded with an RBI hit in the 8th, driving in Joey Bart who had tripled. Duggar had a walk earlier and also caught the final out. I think his defense is part of the promotion, and Kap said his lefty bat was a factor.

The Giants have had a rough time with the Rockies this season, and the win tonight brings their record to four wins against five losses, so a win tomorrow can even up the series. Both Baggs and AmyG just tweeted that Kevin Gausman will start tomorrow afternoon, 12:45 Pacific.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

Clutch win

SF 5  COL 2

Giants get back to .500 with some good pitching and timely hitting, a tried-and-true formula. This year's variation on that formula involves getting better matchups and we saw that tonight. Righty Austin Slater led off against southpaw Kyle Freeland and hit a homer, and struggling righty Joey Bart got an RBI double in the 5th off the same lefty. With the game at 2-2 in the 7th, lefty pinch-hitter Alex Dickerson launched a homer off righty reliever Jairo Diaz and lefty pinch-hitter Brandon Belt added a booming two-run double in the same frame and that set up the win. Tony Watson and Sam Coonrod got the last six outs. Drew Smyly started and was effective for 5-1/3, with Trevor Cahill, Jarlin Garcia, and Tyler Rogers bridging the gap. The Giants are 27-27 with six games remaining. They are averaging about five runs on both sides of the ball, scoring 272 and allowing 269 in the 54 games. They are 17-10 at home and of course they are 10-17 away.

A couple of nine-run games would be nice, don't you think? No starter announced for tonight's 6:45 contest but maybe Logan Webb could go on four days rest (he pitched Friday). Trevor Cahill faced only three batters last night so you'd think he could deliver some "bulk innings" in relief. We'll see.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C. 

 

p.s. FNG OF Luis Basabe had to leave the game in the 3rd when he tweaked his hamstring. FNG IF Daniel Robertson had to play in left field, and he got his first ever OF assist when he threw out Garrett Hampson in the 7th trying to stretch a single into a double. I like both of these players and hope they are part of the mix next spring.

That hurts

COL 7  SF 2

Johnny Cueto pitched one of his worst games ever and the Giants were shut down by German Marquez. They drop to 26-27 with the loss. There are three more to play against the Rockies and then four (Friday is a doubleheader) against the Padres to end the season.

Drew Smyly goes tonight (6:45 Pacific).

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

I was happy at nine

 SF 14  OAK 2

The Giants saved up all their runs for today and gave the Athletics a good pasting. This team really can pile it on and I'm not used to that. San Francisco certainly owed it to their Oakland neighbors as they had been on the opposite end of a streak of pastings, a streak finally snapped this afternoon. That ends the season series, a lopsided 1-5 in the six (three home, three away) games.

Tyler Anderson pitched well, giving up a couple of runs in the 6th with an 8-0 lead, certainly an encouraging performance from the lefty. The inning started with a rare error from first baseman Brandon Belt and the runs were unearned. Shaun Anderson, Caleb Baragar, and Wandy Peralta put together a scoreless 3-1/3 to finish things. The Giants were able to take advantage of a good start unlike yesterday when they squandered Kevin Gausman's excellent effort.

The big bopper was Brandon Crawford with a double and a homer, a grand slam that "broke the game open" as they like to say. Joey Bart got a day off (he needed it!) and Chadwick Tromp responded with three hits including a two-run homer. Darin Ruf, after two misplays in left field yesterday, bounced back with two hits and four runs batted in, one of the hits a two-run homer. There were lots of highlights!

The Rockies come to town tomorrow evening at 6:45 Pacific. Johnny Cueto, scratched from the start today, gets the call.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

Again?

See yesterday.

Tyler Anderson this afternoon.

--M.C.

Skunked

OAK 6  SF 0 

Logan Webb has some seriously nasty stuff but he had some serious command issues tonight and got predictably clobbered by the A's disciplined lineup. In the 1st inning Donovan Solano made a Little League error that led to a run but the three-run homer by Matt Olson in the 3rd made everyone forget about it. Meanwhile Chris Bassitt, after a strong campaign last year, is having his best season and he made the Giants lineup look punchless. The A's have a really good team and the Giants have a hard time against good teams. They have not won against Oakland yet this year. Even if they had won one of the two Trevor Gott meltdown games they would still be over-matched. Let's hope they play better this weekend!

Kevin Gausman tomorrow at 1:10.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

If 6 Was 9

 SF 6  SEA 4

This game would have been more relaxing if the Giants would have stuck to the formula and scored nine runs instead of a mere six. It happens that six was just enough, although it took a comeback featuring a big two-run triple from Wilmer Flores with two outs in the 7th to pull off the win. Giants pitchers threw 181 pitches this afternoon but walked only four batters (and hit two) so that's an improvement over yesterday. Starter Tyler Anderson got knocked about for four runs in the 2nd and then kicked out in the 3rd for arguing balls and strikes. Wandy Peralta, Rico Garcia, Tony Watson, Tyler Rogers, and Sam Selman covered the final seven frames without yielding a run. The Mariners threatened in the 7th, 8th, and 9th but the 'pen held firm and sealed the victory. Peralta's three hitless innings in relief of Anderson was the key performance, I think.

Newcomer Luis Basabe had a hit, walked twice, and scored two, Mauricio Dubon had two hits and scored a run, Evan Longoria had two hits and a run batted in, and Darin Ruf launched a solo shot in the 1st to fill up the highlight reel. The Giants are a sparkling 16-4 against Arizona (8-2), Seattle (4-0), Texas (2-1), and LA-Anaheim (2-1). Unfortunately their final three opponents are Oakland, Colorado, and San Diego and they are a less than stellar 3-12 against them. So it will be a big challenge for the Giants to stay in the hunt in their final stretch. This weekend's series with the A's is at the Coliseum but the final two sets are at home where they have won 16 of 25, so maybe home cookin' will be the ticket.

Logan Webb goes Friday at 6:40 p.m., Kevin Gausman Saturday at 1:10 p.m., and Johnny Cueto Sunday, also at 1:10, all times Pacific.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

 

p.s. Mike Yastrzemski had to leave the game early with a calf injury, let's hope it is minor.

Just score nine runs and it will all work out

SF 9  SEA 3

The San Francisco Giants 2020 pitching staff gives up, on average, five runs per game. Tonight they walked eight guys and hit two for ten free baserunners. That's a lot of free baserunners! The Seattle Mariners were kind enough to score only three runs despite the ten free runners (and their six hits). Other teams might take more advantage of the Giants generosity. Teams that are over .500, for example. It has been a lot of fun watching the ballclub this season but not because of the pitching. In fact, my Mom and I were watching the last part of the game tonight and she kept asking "who's that guy?" Oh, I'd say, that's Sam Selman, or Sam Coonrod, or Rico Garcia, or Jarlin Garcia, or what-have-you. When she asked me "who started?" I said "Drew Smyly" and of course she said "who?" She's a good fan but you really do need a damn scorecard this year.

But I'm not here to bemoan the state of Giants pitching. After all, they did get the job done tonight and it was a big win. After losing three in a row, getting back to .500 (24-24) is a big deal. They did that by scoring eight runs in the first four frames. You do that and more often than not you will win even if your pitchers throw 182 pitches!

The Giants lineup cracked 15 hits tonight. Fifteen! You do that you can win some ballgames. After the goofiness of the weekend with the COVID cancellation and the goofy re-locating of the Seattle series to San Francisco the hitters responded with an inspired collective effort to snap a three-game skid. By the way the M's were the home team and batted last but the G-men wore their home unis. Goofy!

Tomorrow the game is at 1:10 PDT and Tyler Anderson gets the start.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

If it ain't one thing, it's another . . .

The Giants and Mariners postponed their games in Seattle due to the poor air quality there. It's a little better in San Francisco so the games will be played Wednesday and Thursday at Oracle Park.

6:45 p.m. tomorrow--Drew Smyly gets the start.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

The Ol' One-Two

SD 6  SF 0

SD 3  SF 1

The Giants picked a bad time to go into a slump! To be fair, San Diego has a very good ballclub and they also strengthened themselves for a playoff push at the trade deadline. One of those acquisitions was Mike Clevinger who threw a (7-inning) shutout, allowing only two hits. The Giants lineup managed a run in the next game but could not get anything else going. It was the ol' one-two: shut down pitching and timely hitting. That's seven wins in a row for the Padres.

The Giants are now 23-24 after the three straight losses in San Diego. There's an off-day tomorrow and then two games in Seattle, Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:40 Pacific, and then another off-day on Thursday.

Let's hope the team can gets its groove going again real soon!

--M.C.

Games Postponed

 

 Here's a link to the story on the Giants webpage.
 

Padres snap Giants streak

SD 6  SF 1

There was at least something to Smyly about tonight, and that is the return of southpaw Drew Smyly, who was popping 96 on the gun and whiffing Padres left and right in relief of Trevor Cahill. The Padres high-powered offense made short work of Cahill, scoring three in the 1st and one in the 3rd, and that was enough. Then they ran out one tough reliever after another and smothered the Giants hitting attack.

The Giants face a big challenge on this road trip. Getting Drew Smyly back could be a big help. I suspect he will get a start in Seattle. Johnny Cueto gets the start tomorrow evening (6:10 PDT) against Garrett Richards.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

 

p.s. Justin Smoak did indeed join the active roster and take Pablo Sandoval's spot. Activating Smyly also sent down Rico Garcia.

Five in a row!

SF 10  SEA 1

The Giants had another great night at the plate, rapping out 12 hits and 10 runs to overwhelm the Seattle Mariners and claim their fifth straight win. Tyler Anderson bounced back from a couple of poor outings to throw six scoreless innings and give the home squad a chance to wave their big sticks. Which they did, with Yaz yanking a three-run bomb, Longo driving in three, Wilmer getting two hits and scoring two, and Bart rapping out two hits with an RBI and a run scored.

It's been a little rocky for the veteran southpaw in 2020. On August 22nd Anderson threw his best start ever, a three-hit, one-run (unearned) complete game win against the Diamondbacks. The next two starts, also against Arizona (thanks to the goofy schedule), resulted in eleven runs allowed in 8-2/3 IP. Tonight Anderson put a man on in the 1st on an error by Solano, but then picked him off. He kept them at bay after that. Trevor Gott handled the 7th, and Rico Garcia gave up a run in the 8th but pitched a clean 9th to finish it off.

The Giants will face a stern test on this next road trip, their last one of the season, starting tomorrow with four against the Padres. San Diego (28-17) is the second-best team in the NL, four games behind the Dodgers, and in fact lead all of baseball in runs scored.

6:10 p.m. PDT.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

G-men subdue M's

SF 6  SEA 5 

The Giants had to take on a team much like themselves and it turned out to be an epic battle. The Mariners, like the Giants, didn't move the needle on anyone's meter this pre-season and both teams were laughably--all too predictably--bad in the early going. But both teams hit a hot streak when all seemed lost and fought back to respectability. In Seattle's case, it was passing two teams to claim third place. For the local lads, it was getting to a .500 record.

Luis Basabe made his Giants debut tonight and made a great catch, just what he was supposed to do. I've been curious about this fellow since we picked him up so let's get some more Basabe-ball! Speaking of doing things to the ball, the Giants hit three homers to claw back from a big deficit and put a hurt on Seattle's winning vibe. Alex Dickerson, Darin Ruf, and Mauricio Dubon (!) were the dinger dudes tonight, but a nice one-two combo by Donovan Solano and Brandon Belt also accounted for some big runs.

Logan Webb gave up five runs in the first three innings but managed to last two more and put up zeros in each. The bullpen then had to deliver and they put up four scoreless to seal the deal. This time it was Caleb Baragar (6th), Tyler Rogers (7th), Jarlin Garcia (8th), and Tony Watson (9th). It was another fine all-around effort! The Giants continue to play better in the field as well and that makes for a winning formula. It would be nice to see them knock a half-run or so off the team ERA, but it is also nice to see them make do with what they have. This team is competitive and puts up a fight in every game and you have to like that.

They are now 22-21 (.512) and in third place in the NL West. Tyler Anderson tomorrow at 6:45 PDT.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

Back to .500

SF 4  AZ 2

Arizona starter Zac Gallen sliced through the Giants lineup with seeming effortlessness for five scoreless innings. But in the 6th, the cagiest of the cagey vets, Pablo Sandoval, of all things, worked a walk to start the fateful frame. Down 1-0, the Giants needed a spark, and Joey Bart followed the Panda with a sharp line drive single. It was one of the only hard-hit balls of the night against Gallen. Maurico Dubon also walked, a wild pitch followed, and Mike Yastrzemski hit a single that scored pinch-runner Daniel Robertson. Singles by Darin Ruf (filling in for Alex Dickerson who fouled a ball off his knee in the 4th) and Donovan Solano along with a walk to Brandon Belt scored three more runs. Suddenly the Giants had the lead and the Diamondbacks were calling on the bullpen.

Meanwhile Kevin Gausman was pitching an outstanding game of his own, allowing only two hits and the one run in his six innings, while striking out nine. The Diamondbacks threatened against the Giants bullpen, but a solo homer off Sam Coonrod in the 9th was the only blemish.

The Giants finish the season series 8-2 against Arizona. The Seattle Mariners come to town for two games, Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. They are surging right now, having won six in a row to bring their record to 19-22 and pass both the Rangers and Angels to claim third place in the AL West. The Giants get to .500 (21-21) after winning 13 of their last 18 games.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

20 wins!

SF 4  AZ 2

Johnny Cueto had to work hard this afternoon, throwing 109 pitches to 26 batters to get through 5-2/3 innings. He gave up two runs right away in the top of the 1st but kept the Arizona hitters off the board into the 6th. He left with the bases loaded but Caleb Baragar got the final out. The Giants got two in the bottom half of the 6th on a homer by Donovan Solano to take the lead and the bullpen did the rest. Jarlin Garcia loaded the bases in the 7th but struck out two to escape unscathed. Tony Watson (8th) and Tyler Rogers (9th) each struck out two in their brisk, dominant frames to finish off the Diamondbacks. Chadwick Tromp hit a solo shot in the 3rd but otherwise lefty Alex Young frustrated the Giants until Solano's big hit. Brandon Belt, pinch-hitting for Tromp in the 7th, added a solo shot off Yoan Lopez to make it 4-2 and that's how it finished.

The Giants get their 20th victory in their 41st game with some excellent defense, timely bombs, and superb relief work. Cueto deserves a nod for his veteran savvy clutchness, getting some big strikeouts (he had seven overall) against a patient lineup, and keeping the lid on things when it seemed ready to fly off.

Kevin Gausman takes the hill tomorrow against Zac Gallen at 5:05 p.m. PDT.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

2/3 of the season

SF 4  AZ 3

The Giants played a much better game tonight and it was just enough to prevail over the Diamondbacks. Madison Bumgarner was on the mound for Arizona and Giants hitters made him work (72 p in 4 IP) but he gave up only three hits. Fortunately for the home team two of them were homers! Evan Longoria and Darin Ruf went back-to-back to lead off the 2nd and that turned a 1-0 deficit to a 2-1 lead. The Giants got back-to-back triples (how often does that happen?) by Joey Bart and Mauricio Dubon after Brandon Belt walked in the 6th to make it a 4-1 lead. The triples were the first by both Bart and Dubon--how often has that happened? The Diamondbacks tagged Trevor Gott for a homer in the 7th and added a run off Tyler Rogers in the 8th but Tony Watson threw a 13-pitch 9th to seal the win.

Trevor Cahill had to leave in the 3rd with an injury but some solid work by Caleb Baragar, Sam Coonrod, and Jarlin Garcia (3-2/3 IP, 5 K) kept the lid on things and gave the lineup a chance to add runs later.

Tonight was the 40th game of the season. We are two-thirds of the way through the 60-game schedule. Here's the story so far:

1st third (Games 1-20): 8-12

2nd third (Games 21-40): 11-9

Overall: 19-21, .475, fourth-place in the NL West, 1/2 game behind Colorado (19-20) and four games ahead of Arizona (15-25). Johnny Cueto goes tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. Pacific.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

D-Backs Double Up Giants

AZ 6  SF 5

The Giants put a lot of guys on base last night and had lots of chances to score but hit into four double plays and could not get the big run-scoring hit to get past Arizona. They fought back from an early deficit and had the bases loaded with no outs in the 8th, down by a run, but failed to get it done. Mauricio Dubon made a Little League mistake on the bases and turned a pop out by Alex Dickerson into a double play and that took the momentum out of that potential rally. Steven Duggar was at third base and feinted toward home (the fly ball was too shallow to score on) to draw the throw, unfortunately all he did was deke his teammate! Dubon broke for third and got hung up when the ball came back to the cutoff man. Dubon made a poor decision on a throw from centerfield earlier in the game that contributed to a run by the Diamonbacks. He looks good as an outfielder and seems to have the range and athleticism for the position but he is still really raw as a player.

Tyler Anderson gave up four runs in his four innings and Sam Coonrod got lit up for two more in his 1/3 inning of relief and that was enough. The 'pen did fine the rest of the way with Sam Selman delivering a very sharp six-out stint that gave the home squad a fighting chance. Five runs ought to be enough for a win but the lack of consistent pitching keeps the Giants struggling to reach a .500 record.

Brandon Belt was hitting .128/.227/.231 on August 15th. He got three hits the next day and has gone on a tear since and is now slashing .341/.429/.659 for a 1.088 OPS! FanGraphs rates him at 1.3 WAR and Baseball-Reference says 1.2, in either case he's second on the team to Mike Yastrzemski (2.4f, 2.2b).

Madison Bumgarner faces his old team at 6:15 tonight. Trevor Cahill gets the call.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

Missed opportunity

COL 9  SF 6

I have a near-religious belief that a team must score at least eight runs in order to be competitive in Coors Field. I have seen too many leads evaporate in that park over the years. Today the Giants jumped to an early lead, 6-1 in the 4th, but the Colorado bullpen suddenly stiffened and threw five consecutive scoreless innings. Meanwhile the Giants bullpen had an epic meltdown. Logan Webb was solid through five, allowing only two runs, and with a low pitch count manager Gabe Kapler let him start the 6th. He got Charlie Blackmon with a strikeout, but gave up a single to Kevin Pillar* and a bunt single to Trevor Story. Kap replaced Webb with Jarlin Garcia who allowed both runners to score on a single and a sacrifice fly. Sam Coonrod came out for the 7th with a 6-4 lead but retired no one, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk. Tyler Rogers finally put the fire out but not before three more hits (including a homer) and two more runs. The Rockies flipped the game over and went to the 8th with a 9-6 lead and that's how it ended.

I was really hoping the Giants would take both games and come home with a .500 record. I felt like the early runs were only going to work if the Giants could tack on a couple more in the final third of the game. I figured the Rockies to chip away at the 'pen but I did not expect a five-spot, especially with the way Coonrod and Rogers had performed lately. A frustrating loss, to be sure. The Giants are 2-4 against the Rockies and have four more games with them (at home) in the final week of the season. I would really like to see the Giants pass these guys in the standings!

Off-day tomorrow. Arizona comes to San Francisco for four starting Friday night. The Diamondbacks are the team the Giants have beat up on the most this year, with the good guys taking five of six. Let's hope that continues.

--M.C.

 

*Pillar was picked up at the deadline by the Rockies from the Red Sox. He was in last night's game and was 0-for-3 but had two hits (including a 2-run triple) against his old team this afternoon. His current .274/.323/.476 slash line (over 30 G and 134 PA) is the best mark of his career.

Dick's Big Stick Leads Giants

SF 23  COL 5

Alex Dickerson hit THREE home runs--the first multi-homer game of his career--and the Giants clobbered the Rockies tonight in Coors Field. It was a sustained multi-hitter attack as the lineup scored at least one run in each of the first eight innings! Dickerson wound up with five hits (the others were doubles, one a booming near-homer), a walk, five runs scored, and six runs batted in. He tied a club record with 16 total bases (held by Willie Mays). Naturally, with 27 hits and 23 runs, there were hitting stars up and down the lineup but it is worth noting that young Joey Bart had three hits, two runs scored, and a run batted in. Donovan Solano and Brandon Crawford both had six RBI nights, and Mike Yastrzemski made another great catch. It was one of those nutty games but a hell of a lot of fun. The Rockies "only" used six pitchers (one was catcher Drew Butera) and they threw a combined 228 pitches!

Kevin Gausman allowed just two hits, both solo shots, and both by shortstop Garrett Hampson. Hampson would probably be the story on another night, but not tonight. Gausman was pulled after five innings and 87 pitches (5 K, 1 BB) and that was probably smart. Pitching in Denver is more "quit while you're ahead" than "go get a few more outs." Andrew Suarez pitched a scoreless 6th and 7th but came out after yielding two runs in the 8th. Wandy Peralta got the final five outs, giving up a run in the 9th.

Dickerson's first homer was a 480-foot moonshot, the longest by a Giants hitter since a 475-footer by Brandon Belt in 2015. That's when Statcast started tracking such things. Trevor Story is credited with a 505-foot satellite launch against the Giants two years ago, that's #1 on the Statcast list, but anything over 450 feet is prodigious. Dick is a big part of the team's plans but he's had a slow start to this abbreviated season. He had four hits in the two wins in Anaheim but still came into tonight's contest slashing an ugly .221/.299/.355 line, well below expectations. We know he's talented, but can he stay healthy and be a consistent, productive hitter? I sure hope so.

Infielder Daniel Robertson made his Giants debut and had a hit and a run scored subbing in the 7th for Evan Longoria (who had two hits). Robertson was on the taxi squad and was acquired for "cash considerations" from the Rays last month. He replaced OF Joey Rickard (60-day IL) on the roster and is a right-handed hitter who plays mostly second base but also has experience at third and short.

Logan Webb gets the start tomorrow (12:10 Pacific). The Rockies counter with lefty Kyle Freeland.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

p.s. Three teammates in the same game each getting six runs batted in is a first since 1920 when the RBI became an official statistic.