So they won't go 0-for-September! Whew. It was looking like a real possibility. The Rockies came to town and threw away enough leads for a week's worth of baseball and the Giants capitalized and won a wild one. The game lasted almost three hours (2:53) which is increasingly unusual in today's pitch-clock world. The winning runs came on back-to-back bases-loaded walks! Credit to the Giants for muscling up (four homers including a back-to-back-to-back sequence to tie it in the 6th) and getting the line moving again (13 hits). Rookie Luis Matos was in the leadoff spot and hit two doubles and a single and added a walk. He looks more polished and seems to be finding himself. The team could sure use a spark, and a young stud (he's 21) having a big month would fit the bill. Someone has to help Wilmer Flores carry the load. The 32-year old is having a career year (.290/.356/.540) with 22 doubles and 22 homers in 108 games (393 PA).
Kyle Harrison got himself in trouble in the 2nd after an error and had a little bad luck, but hung on to get through five innings. He came out for the 6th and gave up a homer which made it 4-0 Colorado and Kapler pulled him (90 pitches). The lineup tied it in the bottom half and scored two in the 7th and three in the 8th to give Camilo Doval a 9-7 lead. He gave up a two-out RBI but got a strikeout to end it.
It has been an ugly stretch, that's for sure. Let's hope they can turn the page on all that and look better going forward. They are playing themselves out of a playoff spot but there are 21 games still on the calendar and a lot can happen in three weeks of baseball. All I can say is "right the ship, lads" and find a way to pull on the oars together.
It's Logan Webb tonight, 6:05 Pacific.
Go Giants!
--M.C.
2 comments:
Ugly is putting it mildly. I've watched a lot of Giants games this year and August has been nothing but frustrating. The offense disappeared, the excellent defense they've had in the past has shown vulnerabilities, and the once dominant bullpen has found ways to lose games. Is the team just tired nearing the end of a long season? I have no clue, but it's become painful watching my beloved Giants. What happened to the team that shellacked the Dodgers 15-0 on June 17 and swept them in LA? They were an offensive juggernaut back then and we've all been waiting for that team to reappear. Perhaps a little home cooking and feasting on the Rockies and Guardians will help them turn the corner, get the offense going and JUST WIN BABY!
GO GIANTS!
It's a team of extremes. They swing back-and-forth from being good to being lousy. 35-20 in May/June, 25-34 in July/Aug/Sep (so far).
I think the holes in the rotation exposed the bullpen. The relievers had to do too many innings for too long. I'll say it again, it's amazing that they were able to paper over the lack of starters for as many games as they did.
Injuries to the hitters who were supposed to add some depth and thump to the lineup (Conforto and Haniger) really hurt. Then they all fell like dominoes--Wade, Yaz, Pederson, Estrada, Davis, Slater, etc. have all been out of the lineup or under-performing.
It's a team-wide thing. When they are lousy, they are lousy all over the field. When they are good, they are getting production from everyone.
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