6th inning: 10-8

1st inning: 11-7

2nd inning: 11-7

3rd inning: 12-6

4th inning: 12-6

5th inning:  12-6

6th inning: 10-8

The Giants got back in the win column last night behind a strong start from Kevin Gausman and homers by Donovan Solano and Alex Dickerson. The 7-1 victory featured the return of Tommy La Stella who had two hits and two walks and a nice bounceback by reliever Jay Jackson who struck out three of the four batters he faced in his inning of work.

Last night was also Game 108, the end of the sixth seasonal inning, which means we are two-thirds of the way through. Only 54 games remain. The Giants are in first place by 3-1/2 games over the Dodgers and their 68-40 (.630) record is tops in MLB.

The Giants have been remarkably consistent, as you can see above, with a winning record in each of the 18-game divisions. If you look at monthly results you see the same thing: April 16-10, May 18-10, June 16-9, and July 15-10. They are now 3-1 in August and 11-8 since the Break. If they want to finish with 100 wins (wouldn't that be something?) they need to go 32-22 (.593) the rest of the way. So, can they play .600 ball for two more months?

Anthony DeScalfani was placed on the 10-day IL but Kap says he only expects him to miss one start which will likely go to Aaron Sanchez. Conner Menez was DFA'd--he was at AAA but on the 40-man roster. Brandon Belt should be activated today or tomorrow with Kevin Gausman going on paternity leave. When he returns the roster crunch will hit. Someone will have to get sent down! It's a good thing when such decisions are painful, it means you have a deep ballclub.

Alex Wood this afternoon at 12:40 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

 

update: Giants win 5-4 in 10 innings. Down 4-0 the Giants rallied in the 9th to tie it and won it in the 10th. Arizona starter Merrill Kelly was dominant through the first eight frames but the Diamondbacks bullpen couldn't get it done. LaMonte Wade had the game-tying hit and Kris Bryant the game-winner. Logan Webb gets the start in Milwaukee tomorrow at 5:10 PT. GO GIANTS!

Bumgarner beats Giants

AZ 3  SF 1

Madison Bumgarner threw seven innings last night and allowed six hits, one a solo homer by Curt Casali, out-pitching Johnny Cueto and leading the D-Backs to a win. Casali was charged with a weird error in the 2nd that contributed to the scoring when he accidentally touched a loose ball with his mask. That advanced the baserunners and they both later scored. He pulled off his mask to find a pitch in the dirt and wound up using it to block the ball, which is illegal.The Giants hit some balls hard but had nothing to show for it, and Arizona got a few breaks on some dinkers, but that's baseball. Cueto walked four batters--including Bumgarner, who later scored--in his five frames and that's never good. Aaron Sanchez pitched the final three innings and he also walked four batters but did not allow any runs. Giants pitchers have been really good this year not allowing bases on balls and that needs to continue. The Astros blanked the Dodgers in LA so the lead stays at 3-1/2 games.

Kevin Gausman goes tonight, 6:40 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Wild win in Arizona

SF 11  AZ 8 (10)

The Giants were up 7-1 in the top of the 5th after a grand slam from Alex Dickerson, a man who needed a grand slam to break out of his season-long funk. Gabe Kapler then sent a shaky Anthony DeSclafani out for another half inning of work and he promptly gave up two two-run homers. In the 7th, protecting an 8-5 lead, Jay Jackson loaded the bases and gave up a run but was one strike from getting out of the jam when he gave up a game-tying double. It was that kind of game. The Giants broke the 8-8 tie in the top of the 10th with a nice sequence: Posey double to score BCraw (the magic runner), he moved to third on a lineout by Dickerson, Austin Slater was walked, Steven Duggar singled to drive in Posey and move Slater to third, and Donovan Solano squeeze-bunted him home. Jarlin Garcia pitched a scoreless 9th and 10th to get it done. Yaz got the scoring started with a two-run homer in the 3rd and Wilmer Flores, pinch-hitting for DeSclafani in the 6th, hit a solo shot.

LA and SD were idle so that's a half-game bump. Madison Bumgarner goes for the Diamondbacks tonight, he's matched up against Johnny Cueto at 6:40 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Another series win

SF 5  HOU 3

The Giants took two of three from the Astros and two of three from the Dodgers in successive series. Those two teams have the second- and third- best records in baseball, and the two best run differentials, too. They are good teams. They are loaded with talent. And the Giants played good baseball and beat them both!

Kris Bryant, batting second, struck out in his first plate appearance in San Francisco, but he hit a homer next time up. That got a three-run rally started which erased the 2-0 deficit. Bryant made a throwing error later, but it didn't hurt, and he handled three other chances without a problem. Logan Webb gave up a homer in the 1st, but followed that with five scoreless. He even picked off a runner! He's really emerging as a pitcher. Darin Ruf bopped the lead to 5-2 in the 5th--he had a three-hit, three RBI day. Webb was chased in the 7th but masterful relief work from Dominic Leone held the line. Tyler Rogers gave up a run in the 8th but Jake McGee had a 1-2-3 9th to seal the deal.

The team travels to Arizona for four games, the first tomorrow night at 6:40 Pacific. Anthony DeSclafani gets the start.

Go Giants!

--M.C.