Winning formula

SF 5  PIT 4 (10)

It was sort of impossible to write about that ridiculous 13-12 loss the other night. The Giants gave up nine runs in an inning and yet tied the game later. Maybe next year they will learn that you have to go ahead and not just tie a ballgame. And WTF Logan Webb? That was the worst outing (202 starts!) of his career.

But tonight they found a winning formula: late runs and some decent bullpen work. Rafael Devers hit another homer (his 32nd) to open the scoring. Bryce Eldridge and Turner Hill accounted for the rest of the RBIs. The Pirates plated the Manfred Man to open the bottom half of the 10th but Dylan Smith got the next three outs for the save. It's the kind of game we've seen the team lose over and over again this season. Maybe next year they can use this winning formula more frequently.

That's two "maybe next year"(s) in the same post!

It's an early game tomorrow (9:35 a.m. PT) and it looks like Blade Tidwell's turn.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants whip Braves

SF 7  ATL 3

The win the other night was helped along by FNG Yunior Marte who as I pointed out was acquired from the Braves in the Yaz trade. I also note that Yaz struck out (on a challenge!) to end tonight's contest. Tonight's starter, Anthony Molina, came to SF (via Atlanta) for Tyler Mahle. So, Buster's hot stove happenings have delivered some early returns. Molina is only 24 and made his debut with Colorado when he was a mere 22 years. Marte is a mere 22. Bring on the Youth Brigade!

Rafael Devers hit his 30th homer. Jonah Cox and Osleivis Basabe homered. Turner Hill had a two-run double in the four-run 6th. Nice relief work from Jason Foley, Reiver Sanmartin, and Dylan Smith got the job done.

The Giants finish the season with a 5-1 record against the 82-56 NL East-leading Braves. Go figure.

Pittsburgh tomorrow, 3:40 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Late win earns split

SF 7  ARI 2

The Giants had a guy a few years ago named Yunior Marté. He's on the Reds now. Last year the Mike Yastrzemski trade netted a new Giants pitcher named Yunior Marte. This Yunior got called up from AA and started the late game and managed 4-2/3 IP of major-league cromulence. It led to a win, a rare thing for this club. Way to go, Yunior!

Oh, Bryce Eldridge had four hits. That guy is really putting it together. I think he's going to be the real deal next year.

The Giants start their road trip tomorrow with a make-up game in Atlanta (3:05 PT). Then it's on to Pittsburgh and New York.

Go Giants!

--M.C. 

Giants beat Diamondbacks

SF 6  AZ 1

That's only two wins in ten games vs. Arizona.

Only eight more wins until 63!

Blade Tidwell tonight at 7:15 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C. 

Near-shutout makes it two in a row

SF 3  CIN 1

For the second straight night a Giants starter had to leave the game due to injury. Adrian Houser was pulled in the 2nd and the 'pen had to scramble to cover innings. Like last night, it worked. Carson Whisenhunt will probably need TJS. Adrian Houser's injury doesn't seem as severe, thankfully.

FNG Anthony Molina stepped up with 4-1/3 scoreless frames. He faced 14 batters and retired 13. It was a clutch effort. The Giants played well in the field behind him and that really helped.

In the 9th Reds slugger Sal Stewart greeted Carson Seymour with a homer to close the gap and we all thought "here we go again." But he got the final three outs easily and the Giants moved a step closer to avoiding ignominy. Rafael Devers hit his 28th homer in the 5th.

Day game today (12:45), Landen Roupp Logan Webb is scheduled. Go Giants!

--M.C. 

Shutout snaps skid

SF 5  CIN 0

If you don't let the other guy score any runs it really improves your chances of winning! Six pitchers combined for the Giants tenth shutout of the season. Rafael Devers provided the big hit, a three-run homer in the 2nd. The bad news is that starter Carson Whisenhunt had to come out of the game with an apparent injury. Speaking of injuries, Willy Adames goes on the IL along with Victor Bericoto and JT Brubaker. A bunch of call-ups were needed to "backfill" the roster: Grant McCray, Nate Furman, Shay Whitcomb, and pitchers Anthony Molina and Ryan Walker.

The Giants need ten more wins to avoid losing 100 games. That's a goal we can get behind!

Adrian Houser tonight at 6:45 PT. Go Giants!

--M.C.

Tugboat arrives!

SF 1  CLE 0

Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson took the mound tonight as the opener. He pitched a 1-2-3 1st and pitched around a single-and-stolen base in the 2nd for a tidy debut. The bulky lefty from Canada made the jump from AA and faced his original organization. Tugboat came over in the Patrick Bailey trade. It was an auspicious start to the game and got better from there. Adrian Houser delivered a great long relief performance with five scoreless and Dylan Smith worked a two-inning save. It was the kind of pitching we haven't seen much of this season.

Rafael Devers doubled in the 4th and came home on a Victor Bericoto single and that was all the scoring. I was pretty sure the Giants were going to blow it in the late innings but they didn't. It's their ninth team shutout.

I think "Tugboat" is one of the best baseball nicknames ever. By the way he's listed as a right-handed batter despite being a southpaw. Madison Bumgarner was the same way. Of course Tugboat will most likely never swing a bat in the bigs. He turns 24 in December.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

 

p.s. Tonight's win was Game 126, the end of the seventh seasonal inning. There are a mere 36 games left in the season. This last stretch was a stinky 6-12 and the team is 52-74 (.417) overall. Here's the breakdown:

1st inning: 6-12

2nd inning: 8-10

3rd inning: 8-10

4th inning: 7-11 

5th inning: 9-9 

6th inning: 8-10 

7th inning: 6-12