A near-nightmare 9th didn't spoil the afternoon for the Giants and they chalked up their 37th win. Kevin Gausman was great again, this time striking out ten in his seven innings of two-hit work. One of the hits was a two-run homer in the 2nd, but that was the only blemish on an otherwise outstanding start. The Giants quickly recovered from the early 2-0 hole, scoring in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th to take a 4-2 lead. Alex Dickerson had an opposite-field homer to get things going, and a three-hit rally in the next inning netted two more. A Brandon Crawford double added the final run.
Jake McGee got it done quickly in the 8th and Tyler Rogers was called on for the 9th. The first batter hit a grounder to Mauricio Dubon at second base and he flubbed it. The next grounder to BCraw got an out on the lead runner but Dubon flubbed the exchange. He was in there as a defensive replacement and he looked bad on back-to-back plays! A ground ball single put two on with one out, and then another grounder between third and short resulted in a collision between Craw and Evan Longoria. A run scored. Rogers then got a huge strikeout, and finally another grounder to end it. Longo had to come out of the game and Dubon moved to third. Donovan Solano was inserted at second base and he handled the final chance.
Whew! Torture! But a win, and that's what matters. The Giants have played eleven games since being swept at home by the Dodgers and they've won nine of them. They've taken the first three from the Cubs and have a chance for a sweep behind Johnny Cueto tomorrow. Game time 1:05 Pacific.
Go Giants!
--M.C.
7 comments:
Camilo Doval was re-called to the majors.
Self inflicted torture. The errors have been mounting, and for some reason the giants have won throughout their fielding lapses. Even better, the bums and the Pads both lost. Profar was kicked out of the game for arguing balls and strikes. The odd thing was that the called strike 3 he argued was a good pitch. I is supposedly the first time that he has been tossed in his entire career. Pilar had some key hits. Also Panik had another good game for Toronto.
Yeah the fielding goes through its ups and downs. Overall it's been good, and they've survived the latest stretch where it hasn't been so good. I'm not sure what to make of Dubon. He really needs to make those plays. Rogers is going to give up weak ground balls and the infielders need to be on their toes when he pitches.
On Sunday, neither Crawford nor Longoria are in the lineup. Flores, who is still playing dinged up, is in the lineup. Hopefully replacements will step up. Posey is starting but the reliable Crawford, and the new Longoria (willing to take a walk) are not in. Bryant has been very good against Cueto. Seems as if the Cubs want to try to get to Cueto early with a proposed lineup starting with Rizzo and Bryant in the one two position.
Longo out 4-6 weeks! Yikes.
Thairo Estrada gets the call-up.
Estrada raking at AAA, mostly playing SS.
I realize .381/.435/.629 (14 XBH in 25 G) is in Sacramento, not the big leagues, but it is still a great slash line!
Injuries are going to test the team's depth. We may see more minor-league promotions, or some guys fast-tracked. The starting pitching and the slugging have kept this team at the top for the first third of the season, if those hold up they'll get past all this IL madness.
Losing Longoria is a big one. My God, what if it had been BCraw? Hell, both of them could have been hurt. Those are two big, strong guys moving really fast--ouch! It was a blind hit, too. No chance to roll with the punch.
Time for guys like Dubon to step up. Tromp, Vosler, they are getting a shot and looked good yesterday. If Dickerson, who is showing signs of life, can get hot this month that would be huge.
Seems as if Wisdom, outsmarted the Veteran Cueto.
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