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.