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.
2 comments:
Samardzija was DFAd and given his release. Thus ends his 5-year run, 110 starts, 653-2/3 IP, 4.24 ERA, 4.22 FIP.
He had three good years (2016, 2017, and 2019) where he was a 2+ WAR pitcher. FanGraphs rates his 2017 as 3.8 WAR and Baseball-Reference rates his 2019 WAR as 3.1 WAR. Both systems rate his time with the Giants as about 7 WAR total which seems reasonable.
It could be argued that $90M would have been better spent elsewhere but at the time it was a good signing. Smardj had back-to-back 200 IP (32 GS) seasons and was a solid #3 behind the projected Bum-Cueto 1-2 punch. Those guys fell off a cliff, too! Smardj bounced back with a solid 2019 (32 GS, 181 IP) after a bleak, injury-marred 2018. He had nothing at all in 2020 and spent most of it on the IL. He says he intends to pitch in 2021. He'll be 36 in January.
Johnny Cueto, by comparison, had a great (5 WAR) 2016 but has been limited by injuries since. He is still owed $21M for next year and there is a $5M buyout for 2022. If we get a "real" off-season and Spring Training next year I suspect Cueto could be a solid veteran presence for next year's staff. He'll be 35 in February.
Hunter Pence announces his retirement.
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