Round One: Giants

SF 3  LA 2  (11)

I have no words for the range of emotions this game put me through. I suppose there are a few: enthusiasm, excitement, anguish, despair, torture, frustration, anticipation, euphoria, etc. I don't want to bother with a game recap. There's too much to talk about and I'm a mess. The Giants won in extras on a poor throw from Trea Turner that allowed one of the slowest men in baseball (Buster Posey) to beat out an infield hit for the game-winning RBI. The Giants had so many chances in the game to push across runs (they were 3-for-20 with RISP at one point!) and they kept failing. I suppose the Dodgers have great pitching. They do, actually. They have the best pitching staff in MLB. But somehow the Giants hung on and hung on and kept hanging on and hanging around and they finally pulled out a win.

Special shout out to Anthony DeSclafani for taming his bête noire, the LA Dodgers, and throwing an absolutely brilliant start (6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 W, 5 K) when the team was desperate for some quality innings. That was an awesome performance. Jake McGee couldn't hold a 1-0 lead in the 9th, and I was fit to be tied, but the team showed their vaunted "resilience" and battled back. The Dodgers used 11 pitchers and their entire bench. The Giants did their usual crazy thing, pinch-hitting for LaMonte Wade, Jr. in the 3rd inning (the THIRD inning!!) with Austin Slater to get the righty matchup (against lefty Alex Vesia) and sure enough Slater poked a two-strike RBI single. In the olden days we would have said "Dusty's a genius" or "Bochy's a genius" with such a move but with Kapler we just shake our heads and go "hey man, if it works don't fuck with it" and move on. This is a unique and fascinating team, I hope you are appreciating this marvelous season.

Darin Ruf hit leadoff and had two hits and two walks. He has played exceptional baseball this season and I hope they keep him around next year. Brandon Crawford, ageless wonder and team MVP, had three hits including one in the 10th to tie the game and keep the flame of hope burning.

6:05 is the listed start time for tomorrow night. Strap in and hang on baby, we got all the nail-biting, head-bashing, banshee-wailing action you can handle.

GO GIANTS!

BEAT LA!!

--M.C.

Whew!

SF 5  MIL 1

Thairo Estrada had his biggest moment as a Giants player with a huge three-run homer to cap a four-run 8th that set up this afternoon's win. Darin Ruf's clutch two-out RBI double just before had broken a tense 1-1 tie. Walks to Kris Bryant and Brandon Belt had set up the late rally. Bryant was thrown out trying to steal with a 3-1 count on Belt (I was furious!), but the call was overturned. He was clearly safe. The Giants needed some cathartic hits and both Ruf (who's been superb all season) and Estrada delivered.

Logan Webb led the way with another outstanding performance. He retired the first nine guys with ridiculous ease and allowed only four hits overall, one a two-out RBI single in the 4th. Webb had ten strikeouts and walked only one guy. In the 7th lumbering Daniel Vogelbach tried to stretch a hit to right field into a double but Austin Slater gunned him down to end the inning. Slater's leadoff homer in the 1st got the Giants on the board. Tyler Rogers was perfect in the 8th with three strikeouts, and Jake McGee finished the 9th. He gave up an apparent two-run homer to Willy Adames but upon review it was overturned. It was clearly foul. Adames then hit a hard grounder to Estrada at second base and he made a nice play to end the game.

Obviously today was a massive win. The Giants have not played well and they got smacked around by a tough, first-place team. Well, guess what? The Giants are a first-place team! They have to share it right now with that other team that's also 85-49, but those things can be taken care of this weekend. Tomorrow night's game is at 6:45 Pacific.

GO GIANTS!

BEAT LA!!

--M.C.

Bounced

MIL 5  SF 2

The Giants lost for the fourth straight game and got bounced out of the top spot in the NL West. The four-game skid is tied for the longest of the season. They also lost four in a row right at the end of June and the beginning of July. The Giants were in first place for 100 days, from the 31st of May to the 31st of August. Speaking of August they finish the month with a 19-9 record.

They have their best shot at a win this afternoon (12:45 PT) with Logan Webb taking the hill. He's been the best pitcher on the team since his two wins against the Dodgers at the end of July. In fact, I think his emergence as a legit starter has been the best story of the year, and this has been a year for lots of good stories. Speaking of the Dodgers, they come to town this weekend, so that's a chance to bounce them out and reclaim first place.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

 

p.s. Speaking of 100 days, here's some Sharon Jones for your listening pleasure.

Bummed

MIL 6  SF 2

The Giants got whupped by the Brewers again and have now lost three in a row. Milwaukee has a good team. The Dodgers won and are half a game back. Brandon Belt got his 20th homer--a nice milestone for him, and in only 279 plate appearances.

Kevin Gausman tonight at 6:45 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.