The Giants loaded the bases four times in this game, twice in the same inning. Behind 1-0 in the 3rd, Austin Slater led off with a single and Heliot Ramos followed with his fifth homer. Thairo Estrada singled, Matt Chapman walked, and Jorge Soler singled to load the bases. Wilmer Flores then hit a grand slam. Being up 6-1 was a great, but the way the Giants have been playing it didn't feel like enough. The Giants continued with the inning and loaded the bases again but didn't score.
Jordan Hicks didn't last and the D-Backs chipped away and it was 6-3 in the 6th when the Giants loaded the bases again. They failed to score. Fortunately the bullpen held the line. Soler hit a solo shot in the 8th to create some breathing room. In the 9th Michael Conforto led off with a hit and Ramos walked (he had three on the day). Estrada doubled home a run and Chapman walked to load the bases. Flores hit a sac fly to get another run home. It was enough.
The win snaps a six-game losing streak. That's enough about that. Travel day tomorrow and then a three-game set in Texas against the Rangers. Logan Webb gets the call, 5:05 Pacific.
Go Giants!
--M.C.
2 comments:
The giants are not the only team, that responds poorly when they get bad calls. Hicks was visibly ticked off with some of the calls, and he still kept his cool but it cost him probably about 30 pitches. The walks of Pederson with the bases loaded came on a much better pitch, than the 3-1 pitch to Yaz which was called a strike. But we are not the only team that seems to not respond well to bad calls. Houston was getting out of the inning on a strike 3 pitch right over the plate, and the ump missed it called it a ball. Then with men on St. Louis hit back to back doubles vs. Houston. It happens way too much, and perhaps these guys that throw in the high 90's and low 100's are very difficult for some of these older umpires to call. Perhaps the speed, spin, and movement on the pitches these days have surpassed the eye sight of many of the umps. I could be wrong, but it sure looks bad for the game. With all that being said, the giants needed that win badly, and glad they got a relatively easy win.
Ramos has been a bright spot so far.
Umpiring tends to get better as the season goes on. That being said, you're right, there's a limit to what the human eye can perceive and today's pitchers are pushing the limit. Umps get fooled, too. And this constant "pitch framing" has got to be a huge distraction. You can see that catchers often fool the umpire, and even though that takes a lot of skill, I think it is bull.
I'm very excited about Ramos. He's finally coming into his own. He has been in the system since he was 17!
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