SF 4 LA 2
The Giants battled back late in the game against the Dodgers in their first trip to LA. Drew Pomeranz gave up two solo shots, one to Chris Taylor and the other to pinch-hitter Alex Verdugo, to fall behind 2-0 in the bottom of the 5th inning. In the top of the 6th Brandon Belt greeted reliever Joe Kelly with a solo shot of his own to narrow the gap. In the 7th Yangervis Solarte opened things with an infield single and moved to third with two outs. Pablo Sandoval poked a dramatic two-strike single up the middle to tie the game. Steven Duggar then roped a double to set up the big blow by Belt who doubled off new pitcher Scott Alexander to score both runners. Suddenly it was 4-2 San Francisco with the entire stadium wondering what just happened!
Trevor Gott (6th), Mark Melancon (7th), and Tony Watson (8th) all pitched a scoreless frame in relief of Pomeranz who struck out six of the 21 batters he faced (90 pitches). Julio Urias held the Giants down for the first five innings with seven strikeouts and only three hits allowed.
Will Smith got the call for the 9th inning and he put a runner on with one out but whiffed two to end it. The red-hot slugging Dodgers got cooled off by the multi-headed monster that is the Giants pitching staff! The offense got to the magic number of four runs scored and it worked, just like they drew it up. After that terribly deflating trip to San Diego this feels like a big win. They played good baseball, especially in the field, and got some timely hits to back up the hurlers. Let's see some more of that.
Madison Bumgarner goes tomorrow night. GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
7 comments:
Brandon Crawford's double in the 4th was his 200th.
Brandon Belt's double in the 7th was his 200th.
Kevin Pillar is now on the Giants. Michael Reed, our last-minute gamble, was DFA'd. Alen Hanson, Derek Law, and RHP Juan DePaula (from the McCutchen trade) were traded to Toronto. DePaula is only 22 and still in A-ball, he's the biggest loss, I think. It's nice to have lots of low-ERA, high-K hurlers around.
Pillar is a glove-first guy and usually used in center but will likely start in left. Reed was not cutting it at the ML level (0-for-8 with 6 K) unfortunately. This also takes some heat off Connor Joe who is also struggling although they seem to think he looks better and is not so over-matched. Reed is out of options (like Mac Williamson) so it is hard to know where he'll wind up.
I bet Madbum would love 4 runs of support. And that, I think, is what it will take - hits by Duggar and RBIs by Belt and Longoria. Those guys have to stay healthy and productive. An outfield power bat would help.
Pillar has a little pop but is not known for his bat. Was once a highly-rated CF, but projects now as a corner guy and CF platoon. Duggar is going to get his chance. The team and the park require a fast, rangy guy in center. Everyone wants to see Duggar make it. I see this move not just replacing Reed but support for Duggar. Meanwhile, there will be an ML-bat in LF. Not much of one, but not an AAA bat.
Lots of tiny little steps. Expect more!
Getting Pillar was talked about often during the off-season. Weird that it's finally happening now, but I think that it's a good move. One of the few guys w/ more dWAR than oWAR, plus good speed. Even at 30, he's a legit defensive OF.
Law had such a good early run, but hasn't matched it since. Too bad. As you mention, losing DePaula may come back to haunt the Giants.
This gives us 2 very solid defensive OF's.
Then, there's this tidbit from Wikipedia:
'Through the 2018 season, his 69 stolen bases placed him 7th on the career all-time list of Jewish major leaguers, directly behind Sam Bohne and ahead of Sam Fuld.'
Another very exciting game to watch. I hope they give Madison some runs tonight so he can get a win. I know that you guys (who I completely respect as being much smarter about baseball than I am) don't put a lot of weight on wins for pitchers. But I am old school and they matter to me. As I may have mentioned once or twice, I approach baseball with my heart, not my head.
Any time we beat the Dodgers is a good time for me, no matter who is pitching.
Go Giants!
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