Skid hits four

The Giants lost the getaway game on Wednesday in Colorado 5-3, giving up three runs in the 8th and wasting a good start from Logan Webb.  They followed up that disappointing outcome with another late-game loss, this time 8-7 in extras on Friday against the Padres. A stirring 9th-inning comeback went for naught when San Diego got two in the 10th. The woes continued in Saturday's pitching duel with Joe Musgrove beating Carlos Rodón 2-1. The Giants only run was an 8th-inning solo homer from Wilmer Flores.

Today is almost not worth mentioning. The Giants were thoroughly beaten as the Padres completed the sweep this afternoon 10-1. The home team got four hits. The visitors had 17! Next up for the Giants are the 28-15 New York Mets. It's going to be a tough series, obviously. After opening the season 13-5 the team has slipped to 22-18. That's still the 11th-best record in MLB. Last season the Giants were 24-16 after 40 games.

Alex Cobb goes tomorrow night at 6:45 Pacific. Logan Webb gets his chance Tuesday at 6:45 and Jakob Junis takes the hill Wednesday afternoon (12:45).

Go Giants!

--M.C.

2nd inning: 9-9

1st inning: 13-5

2nd inning: 9-9

The Giants won 10-7 last night in Denver behind six eight extra-base hits. The Rockies, down 10-2, scored five in the 6th to make it a game, but the bullpen did stellar work to seal the deal. Kap admitted after the game that he left Alex Cobb in too long. Randall Grichuk hit a three-run homer before John Brebbia was summoned. Tyler Rogers and Dominic Leone both delivered a scoreless frame and Camilo Doval got the save in the 9th. In true Brian Wilson fashion he got two quick outs then walked two to face hot-hitting C.J. Cron but it all worked out when Austin Slater made a running catch to end the contest.

The Giants are 22-14 after 36 games and that puts them in third place in the NL West. The Dodgers have 24 wins and the Padres have 23. Their .611 win percentage is the eight-best in MLB. The Yankees, the Astros, the Mets, the Brewers, and the Angels are the other teams ahead of the Giants. Last night's win puts their May record at 8-7, they were 14-7 in April. After the sizzling start the team lost 7 of 9 (including five in a row) but then turned it around winning 8 of 10 (including six in a row).

The Giants are scoring 5.17 rpg, second-best in MLB behind the Dodgers. They are allowing 4.14 rpg, good for 16th, just above the league average of 4.16. Obviously the pitching has not been as consistent as it was earlier so it's a good thing the lineup is healthy and producing better. I feel good overall about the staff and I expect they will start to improve. I should note that last season the worst "inning" by the team was 10-8, and that was at the end of July.

It's a day game today (12:10 Pacific) and Logan Webb is scheduled. Travel day tomorrow and then six games at home against the Padres and the Mets.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Homers help Giants

SF 7  COL 6

Mike Yastrzemski launched an upper-deck blast off Daniel Bard in the 9th and that turned out to be the game-winner. Camilo Doval nailed down the save in the bottom half and that snapped the two-game losing streak. Curt Casali hit two homers--one in the 3rd and a three-run shot in the 5th--to lead the way. The Giants had to battle. Alex Wood was chased in the 5th and the Rockies scored against both Dominic Leone and Tyler Rogers. But John Brebbia struck out three in the 8th and that gave Yaz a chance in the next frame. Darin Ruf in the #8 hole chipped in two hits and two runs scored and Thairo Estrada at #7 had two hits and a run scored. Casali was the #9 hitter and he had three hits total so the bottom of the lineup really delivered the goods.

Alex Cobb today at 5:40 p.m. Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants fizzle in St. Louis

Friday SF 8  STL 2 

Saturday STL 4  SF 0

Sunday STL 15  SF 6 

Things were looking up for the Giants after a stirring win Friday night behind Logan Webb. A five-run outburst in the 8th broke open a tense 3-1 game and that made it six wins in a row. The next day the Cardinals subdued the Giants despite a good effort from Jakob Junis. I think everyone was eager to see the rubber match go to Carlos Rodón this afternoon but he unfortunately had his worst outing of the young season. He allowed eight runs on ten hits in 3-2/3 IP. He'd only given up seven runs in his previous six starts. It was a field day for the usual suspects: Paul Goldschmidt (HR, 3 RBI), Nolan Arenado (HR, 2 BBI), Yadier Molina (HR, 4 RBI), and Albert Pujols (2 H, 2 BB, pitched the 9th). Yes, that's right, the Giants used a position player (Luis González) for mop-up duty and the Cardinals followed suit. González got four outs and gave up one hit, Pujols got three outs but gave up two homers and four runs.

It was an ugly weekend. Let's hope they right the ship for the next three games in Coors Field.

Monday's game is at 5:40 Pacific. Alex Wood takes the hill.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Sweep!

SF 7  COL 1

Alex Cobb pitched into the 6th inning and allowed only three hits and one run. The bullpen followed that with a scoreless 3-2/3 and the Giants won their fifth straight. The hitters rapped out ten and added five walks not to mention two Rockies errors, and the highlight was a Brandon Crawford two-run blast in the 5th. It's nice to see the team bounce back from that losing streak. They travel to St. Louis and play on Friday at 5:15 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants wear down Rockies

SF 9  COL 2

The Rockies have not won a game against the Giants since August 14th of last season. The Giants fourth win in a row is their ninth straight against Colorado. The home squad jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the 2nd with a combination of walks and singles. One of the RBI hits was from Curt Casali who added two more hits later and raised his average to .250! Alex Wood gave up a run in the 4th but pitched into the 6th. He threw 104 pitches, his highest total so far this year. Jarlín García delivered two scoreless innings in relief. Brandon Belt had an RBI double in his return to the lineup.

It's an afternoon game today (12:45 Pacific) and Alex Cobb gets the start. it's a travel day Thursday and they open a three-game set in St. Louis on Friday. The Giants have not listed a starter but it is Logan Webb's turn.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Three in a row

SF 8  COL 5

Carlos Rodón throws a lot of pitches. He throws a lot of pitches because he strikes a lot of guys out. Last night he threw 110 pitches in six innings and struck out 12 guys. He allowed six hits and two walks and two of those runners scored but the Giants scored more and won the game. FanGraphs lists Kevin Gausman as the ML leader in WAR for pitchers (2.2). Rodón is right behind him (1.7) and leads baseball in strikeouts (53). I should mention that Gausman has walked only one batter in his 6 starts (38 IP, 147 TBF).

Austin Slater led off the game with a triple and scored on a sac fly from #2 hitter Mauricio Dubón. In the 3rd Slater singled with one out and Dubón hit a two-run homer, a moon shot to CF. Dubón led off the 6th with an infield single and later scored on an RBI hit from Darin Ruf. Ruf led off the 8th with a single and later scored after a Rockies error and a sac fly from Thairo Estrada. The Giants lead the NL in sacrifice flies (15) and are one behind the Boston Red Sox for the most in MLB.

Jake McGee has been struggling and he was given the 9th inning with an 8-2 lead. He gave up three runs with two outs (one scored on an error by Wilmer Flores) but finished the game. Let's hope he gets back on track soon. Alex Wood starts tonight (6:45 Pacific).

Go Giants!

--M.C.