Another Winn!

SF 3  PIT 2

The Giants got another strong start from Keaton Winn and they just nipped the Bucs to take the series. That's 6-4 for the homestand: a 2-2 split with Arizona and 2-1 against both New York (N) and Pittsburgh. The Pirates featured rookie phenom Jared Jones (just profiled this morning by David Laurila at FanGraphs!) who came into the game with 39 strikeouts in 29 IP and only nine runs allowed. His arsenal includes a 100-mph heater. The Giants dinged him in the 3rd with back-to-back homers from Thairo Estrada and Mike Yastrzemski. They tacked on another (which proved to be the difference-maker) with singles from Tyler Fitzgerald (he had three hits on the day) and Jung Hoo Lee followed by a sacrifice fly from LaMonte Wade, Jr. The young righty was done after five (83 pitches) but relievers Luis Ortiz and Kyle Nicolas kept the lid on the scoring.

The Pirates got a run off Winn in the 5th and he was done after six (3 H, 1 W, 5 K, 80 pitches). He's lowered his ERA to 3.18 with three straight 6 IP, 1 R performances. Erik Miller and Ryan Walker handled the 7th and the 8th. Camilo Doval was summoned for the 9th and he gave up a run and loaded the bases with two outs but induced Joey Bart (of all people!) to ground out to end it. Whew. Good thing Camilo is tranquilo because I was getting nervous.

I like to see good starting pitching. Kyle Harrison did well last time out, Winn as we've seen is emerging, Jordan Hicks has been really good, and Logan Webb is doing the Logan Webb thing. It's a travel day tomorrow. They open a three-game set in Boston on Tuesday at 4:10 PT (Webb's on the hill).

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Lucky 13

SF 3  PIT 0

Young southpaw Kyle Harrison had his best start of the season and the Giants added a miracle finish to get their 13th win. It was a tonic after the disappointing bullpen-game loss to the Mets on Wednesday. Which was precipitated by losing Blake Snell to the 15-day IL, an even more disappointing development. Which is why it was especially nice to see a good result for Harrison. He went six and whiffed seven with no walks. Pirates starter Quinn Priester matched him and it stayed scoreless until the final half inning. Hunter Stratton and Aroldis Chapman held the Giants at bay while Ryan Walker and Tyler Rogers kept the Pirates off the board.

In the 9th Camilo Doval put men on the corners to start things off. He then got a strikeout and followed that with a walk to load the bases. Bryan Reynolds then grounded into a double play. After that excitement the Giants had to come up with the winning run. Michael Conforto walked, Matt Chapman singled, and after a wild pitch to move up the runners and crank up the anticipation, Patrick Bailey went yard. His three-run homer sealed the walk-off win.

The Giants are 13-14 and tied with the Pirates for the 16th-best record in MLB, 6-1/2 games off the top spot (Braves, 18-6). Fortunately the Giants are only 3-1/2 back of the 17-11 Dodgers. Jordan Hicks gets the start tonight (6:05 PT).

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Two in a row!

SF 5  NYM 1

Logan Webb retired the first eight hitters he saw tonight on ground balls. He added seven more over the course of eight scoreless frames in a dominant performance. Mets starter Luis Severino matched Webb with four perfect innings but gave up four singles in the 5th for a 3-0 Giants lead. They added two more in the 7th with a couple of extra-base hits. Tyler Rogers had an ugly 9th, giving up three hits and spoiling the shutout, but Camilo Doval bailed him out and saved the win.

Webb followed up rookie Keaton Winn's strong start with an even better one. Not only that, the lineup gave them each five runs to work with. That's a good combination! We'll see if Blake Snell can keep it going. He needs to deliver a good performance and a sweep would be sweet. I try not to read too much into a small subset of games but I like what I saw tonight and last night. The Giants potentially have a really good starting rotation. This looks like a pitching-and-defense club with a solid if unspectacular offense, so if they are to succeed in 2024 the starters will have to lead the way.

It's a getaway game tomorrow so a 12:45 PT start. Off-day Thursday and the Pirates come to town Friday.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants Winn!

SF 5  NYM 2

The Giants put up a couple of crooked numbers early and rode another strong start from rookie Keaton Winn to their 11th victory. Winn dominated through six, dinged only by Mets slugger Pete Alonso's solo shot in the 5th, but ran out of gas in the 7th. Sterling Marte singled to open the frame and Francisco Lindor walked to bring up Alonso. Manager Bob Melvin responded with Ryan Walker who induced an infield fly for the first out. Brett Baty lined out and DJ Stewart grounded out to end the threat. Tyler Rogers had a clean 8th while Camilo Doval had an ugly 9th but they got the last six outs to seal the win.

Winn threw 87 pitches to 21 batters. His final line was 6+ IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 W, 6 K. He's lowered his ERA to 3.54 which is bested only by Logan Webb (2.93) and Jordan Hicks (1.61).

Webb goes tomorrow night (6:45 PT) and Blake Snell is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon (12:45). It's an off-day Thursday and then the Pirates come to town for three over the weekend.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Bailey's Big Day Boosts Giants

SF 7  ARI 3

It was Patrick Bailey Bobblehead Day at the ballpark and the young catcher made the most of it, going 4-for-4 including a homer and two doubles to help the Giants to a bounceback win. Yesterday's stink-o start from veteran lefty Blake Snell led to a lopsided loss. Today's shaky start from rookie lefty Kyle Harrison was rescued by stellar bullpen work and a 16-hit attack. (The Giants need to get their southpaw starters going!)

I was particularly happy to see Jung-Hoo Lee get a couple of key extra-base hits. He led off the game with a homer and then smacked an RBI double in the 8th after a nine-pitch battle. LaMonte Wade, Jr. continues to rake, he's slashing .388/.483/.510 so far. But the day belonged to the backstop and his slash line rose to .340/.397/.560 with that almost-hit-for-the-cycle performance.

Harrison gave up six hits and three runs in four frames. At this point Keaton Winn looks more polished, and further along in his development. Winn is a few years older and played some college ball. I have to remember that Harrison is only 22! The relievers picked up the slack (unlike yesterday) and the lineup delivered a steady attack.

Tomorrow it's Jordan Hicks at 1:05 PT. It's a good matchup with Merrill Kelly.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants blank D'backs

SF 5  ARI 0

Logan Webb gave up hits to the first two batters he faced tonight and then got 19 straight outs (a career high). After a one-out walk in the 7th he picked that guy off and then got the final out of the inning. Giants win two in a row for only the second time this season. And they get their first shutout. A sacrifice fly from LaMonte Wade, Jr. in the 3rd scored Patrick Bailey (who had doubled) with the game's first run. It stayed 1-0 until the 8th when the Giants finally broke through. A pinch-hit double from Wilmer Flores to score two was the big blow, and Mike Yastrzemski added a two-out hit for two more.

Webb whiffed five to go along with 13 groundouts. Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless 8th and Ryan Walker struck out the side in the 9th for a satisfying win against a key division foe. The two teams now have identical 9-11 records.

Blake Snell matches up with Jordan Montgomery tomorrow night (7:15 PT). It's Montgomery's debut for Arizona. Snell's had two forgettable outings so far and everyone is eager to see something better.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants Win with Winn!

SF 3  MIA 1

Rookie Keaton Winn came into today's start with a 3.93 FIP against a 5.06 ERA (and 0-3 W-L record) which I think indicates he's pitched a little better than it looks. Today he got that elusive good result with a sterling six-inning effort that subdued the Marlins. His only blemish was a two-out, two-strike solo shot in the 6th from Bryan De La Cruz. He's Florida's DH and was seeing Winn for the third time. Winn threw 81 pitches to 21 batters, allowing four hits, one walk, and whiffing four. Whatever else happens in this season I'm excited by the young arms on the staff. Winn dropped his ERA by a run and picked up his first W. Rookie Erik Miller threw a scoreless 7th, Tyler Rogers ground-balled his way through the 8th, and Camilo Doval (he's only 26) had a dominant 9th for the save.

It was 1-1 when Winn left but the Giants scored a run in the 7th and another in the 8th to take the game and the series. The offense did just enough today to back up the strong start and solid relief.

Logan Webb (only 27) takes the hill at home against the Diamondbacks tomorrow night (6:45 PT).

Go Giants!

--M.C.

1st inning: 7-11

MIA 6  SF 3

1st inning: 7-11

Giants starter Jordan Hicks cruised through the first three frames before running into trouble in the 4th and giving up two runs. In the 5th he had to work hard to put up a zero and manager Bob Melvin chose to replace him in the 6th. It didn't work out. Ryan Walker and Taylor Rogers gave up a three-spot and that was the game. The Giants saw their 2-2 tie become a 5-2 deficit. Both teams scored in the 7th but the damage was done. The Giants will send out rookie Keaton Winn in the rubber match/getaway game scheduled for tomorrow morning (9:10 Pacific).

It has not been the early-season start that Giants fans were hoping for. The team has struggled to score runs—only 76 in 18 games for a paltry 4.22 rpg average. That sort of near-league average production works fine if you have a dominant pitching staff. But so far the hurlers are not clicking as a group. Overall the pitchers have allowed 90 runs which comes out to exactly 5.00 per game. Last time I checked 5.00 > 4.22 and that inequality needs to go the other way. You know, RS (runs scored) needs to be >>> than RA (runs allowed). It does seem that the fielding has been improved. Matt Chapman is certainly as good as advertised and Nick Ahmed and Jung-Hoo Lee have been solid defenders as well.

I feel like all the pieces are there for this to be a good team. But the April version of the club is what I will charitably call a "work in progress." There are 144 games left. That's plenty of time for the cold bats to warm up. And plenty of time for the rotation to come together and the 'pen to sort itself out.

The high-flying Dodgers are a mere 11-8 so the Giants are only 3-1/2 games back. The Padres (10-9) and Diamondbacks (8-9) aren't lighting the world on fire, either. Nothing a ten-game winning streak wouldn't cure!

--M.C.

Late rally lifts Giants

SF 4  MIA 3

This Giants team seems to have all the necessary parts but they don't quite add up yet. Tonight some pieces came together for a nail-biting win. Marlins starter Edwin Cabrera dazzled the Florida crowd with a 10-strikeout performance in his six innings. The Giants managed a run when Jung-Hoo Lee walked to lead off the 4th, moved to third on a single from Jorge Soler, and scored with two outs on a single from Michael Conforto. Otherwise the lineup was silent until the 7th. Lefty Kyle Harrison gave up three runs in the 2nd but held the Marlins in check through the 6th.

In the winning frame Thairo Estrada doubled with one out against reliever George Soriano and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Mike Yastrzemksi walked and Patrick Bailey made it 3-2 with a sacrifice fly. A walk to Nick Ahmed followed and that was it for Soriano. Marlins manager Skip Schumacher went with lefty Andrew Nardi to face leadoff man Lee. It was a good battle and Lee fouled off several tough pitches before poking a single to left and tying the game. Wilmer Flores pinch-hit for LaMonte Wade, Jr. and singled to make it 4-3 Giants.

Tyler Rogers handled the 7th and Ryan Walker got the first two outs of the 8th. Manager Bob Melvin then appeared to signal for Camilo Doval but Taylor Rogers came out of the bullpen. He was stopped before taking the mound and the closer got the ball. Schumacher didn't seem to like that and he was tossed. Doval nonetheless came through with the four-out save and the Giants had a come-from-behind win.

Tomorrow's game is at 3:40 Pacific and Jordan Hicks will get the start.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Bats back Webb for big win

SF 11  TB 2

After yesterday's discouraging loss the team rebounded with a sound thumping of the Rays. The lineup delivered a barrage of extra-base hits and the Giants cruised behind a stellar start from Logan Webb. I found myself thinking "who is our garbage time guy?" and it turned out to be Nick Avila. He gave up a run in the 8th. Erik Miller had a clean 9th.

Webb's line (7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 W, 4 K) included 12 groundouts with two double plays, one of which plated the only run he allowed. He threw 96 pitches (61 strikes) to 27 batters and earned his first W of the season.

LaMonte Wade, Jr. and Thairo Estrada continued their hot hitting. Wade is in a real good groove right now. His two-run shot in the 5th was the key blow. The team finished with 13 hits, five of which were doubles (Conforto, Lee, 2 by Bailey) and another five were homers (2 by Estrada, Wade, Soler, Chapman). When it rains, it pours. Let's hope this is a good sign and the Giants will get their offense going. Before today they managed only 54 runs in 14 games, a feeble 3.86 rpg.

Big-time FNG Blake Snell gets the start tomorrow morning (10:40 Pacific).

Go Giants!

--M.C.

That's a winning formula

SF 7  WSH 1

Let's see . . . combine great pitching with lots of run-scoring hits and . . . it's a win! This is a formula the Giants should get behind. Team MVP Jordan Hicks threw another good game. He's the best move of the off-season so far. Here's a piece on FanGraphs about the adjustments he's made to move from the bullpen to the starting rotation. Mostly, he's sacrificed some velocity on his big sinker to gain more command. And he's added a splitter. His career path is an unusual one and so far it is paying off for the Giants. I like rooting for this guy.

The youth brigade of Ryan Walker, Landen Roupp, and Erik Miller closed out the last three frames. They were overpowering. Hicks was pulled after six innings and 79 pitches—it was 6-1 by then. A solo homer from Joey Gallo was the only blemish. Speaking of homers, the Giants did not hit one. But they did steal three bases, two of those in one inning by rookie Tyler Fitzgerald. He and the other fellow at the bottom of the lineup (Nick Ahmed) combined for six hits, five runs scored, and three batted in.

Jung-Hoo Lee got the day off. He went through a long slump after a hot start. He had two hits yesterday but he is still making too many easy outs. I don't think he'd missed an inning of the first twelve games so this was a smart time to give him a break. There's an off-day tomorrow and then they go to Tampa Bay for three. Keaton Winn is scheduled for Friday at 3:50 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants eke out a win

SF 3  SD 2

Logan Webb gave up a lot of contact today—12 groundouts and 10 hits, nine of them singles—but didn't walk anyone and kept the ball in the yard. He got 21 outs and gave up two runs. It looked like that would be enough for San Diego to take the rubber match. But the over-matched Giants lineup got some help from Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim who made errors in the 6th and the 8th that led to runs. It was enough to overcome an otherwise feeble offensive effort.

A struggling Jung-Hoo Lee reached base leading off the 6th on Kim's first error, a bad throw. With the bases loaded and one out an infield chopper from Matt Chapman plated the run. In the 8th Wilmer Flores (pinch-hitting for LaMonte Wade, Jr.) singled with one out. Tyler Fitzgerald, pinch-running, raced to third on a blooper from Jorge Soler, just beating Fernando Tatis' throw. Michael Conforto hit a grounder to first and Jake Cronenworth stepped on the bag for the second out and threw to second for the tag play to end the inning. Kim then missed the ball for his second error. Fitzgerald scored and Soler, who never stopped running, made it to third. Giants finally had a little luck go their way. They capitalized on the break with a hit from Chapman that scored the go-ahead run.

Ryan Walker looked really good in a scoreless 8th and Camilo Doval struck out two batters in the 9th, gave up a hit, then got a strikeout to end it.

We finally get to see Thirty-million Dollar Man Blake Snell. He's listed as the starter tomorrow night (6:45 Pacific) against the visiting Washington Nationals.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Walk-off win snaps skid

SF 3  SD 2

Things were looking a bit bleak for the home side in their Home Opener but Thairo Estrada's one-out double in the 9th saved the day. Matt Chapman, who'd been hit by a pitch, scored the winning run from first base to send the crowd home happy. It was a close play and a thrilling moment. Estrada's hit was only the fifth for the team and three of those were from Michael Conforto. Jung Hoo Lee and LaMonte Wade, Jr. were both hitless in the one-two spots but two walks led to two runs (RBIs from Conforto and Chapman). Otherwise the star of the day was FNG Jordan Hicks. The free agent reliever-turned-starter stymied the Padres once again to lead the Giants back to the win column. The righty threw 90 pitches to 25 batters over seven frames yielding five hits and two runs with no walks and five whiffs. His own error led to one of the runs. It was an impressive showing in his home debut with the club. Tyler Rogers threw a scoreless 8th and Camilo Doval was awarded the win with a scoreless 9th.

Keaton Winn gets the start tomorrow night (6:05 Pacific). He lasted five against the Dodgers and allowed three runs but he got burned by Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman. The Padres are good but they don't have those three guys. I'm looking forward to a better outcome for him. But the lineup really needs to get things going and back up the starters. It was good to see a struggling Estrada get a clutch knock.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Three in a row

The Giants opened the season with three good starts and they won two of those games. They then followed that with three lousy starts including last night's stinker from ace Logan Webb. Naturally they lost all three games.

I think the lineup is a big improvement even if it is not yet firing on all cylinders. The fielding was terrible in 2023 and it ought to be quite a bit better in 2024. The bullpen—who knows? But the strength of the team I think will be the starting pitching. There is a lot of depth and talent there. The rotation will make or break this season so I hope it gets in a groove real soon.

The Joey Bart era is over. He was traded to the Pirates for a minor-league righty named Austin Strickland. It's too bad things didn't work out for him in San Francisco. I think there's still a good chance he'll be a quality major-leaguer.

Kyle Harrison gets the start in LA tonight (7:10 Pacific).

Go Giants!

--M.C.