The Giants put a hurt on Dodgers starter Julio Urias, rapping out eleven hits and scoring seven runs in his five innings of work. They rapped out five more hits and scored four more runs off the LA bullpen to take a commanding 11-4 lead into the 8th. Jose Alvarez, back for his second inning of relief, suddenly could not throw a decent pitch and he gave up a two-run homer to Albert Pujols. Matt Wisler had to come in for the last two outs and he returned for the 9th to protect the five-run lead. It took 21 pitches but he got it done. We've seen enough late-inning meltdowns this season, don't you think? How big of a lead is enough? I can't say for sure, this season has me really spooked in the late innings. Thank goodness today's version of the lineup was "up to eleven!"
Logan Webb pitched well in his return from the IL. He had a rocky 1st and gave up a run and then two errors by Donovan Solano in the 2nd led to another. But after that he got his slider working and retired nine straight, putting up clean sheets in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. He threw some nasty pitches and finished with seven whiffs and no walks. Gabe Kapler pulled him after only 62 pitches, but I think they are playing the long game with Webb. He's young and just off the IL, as I said, and the team had a big lead, so I can see the reasoning. It was going to be the third time through the order and with the lefties (Muncy and Bellinger) coming up they decided to go with Scott Kazmir. It wasn't pretty--he gave up a leadoff bomb to Muncy and gave up another run on a walk and two hits. Some might think Kap was getting too cute there, but with injuries up all over baseball it is probably the smart move to be a little over-cautious. Webb, at times, looks like he can be a really tough pitcher, even a star, and I think the Giants have high hopes for his development.
In the end the Giants bashed enough baseballs and plated enough runs to win the game. Evan Longoria and Donovan Solano both homered with a man on, Wilmer Flores had three hits, Mauricio Dubon had three RBI, and both Mike Yastrzemski and Brandon Crawford had two hits. Plenty of highlights and accolades to go around. The Giants had not scored in double digits in LA since 2013!
When this four-game set started I was hoping for a split. I'd turned the page on the ugly sweep in San Francisco and decided that the Giants just needed to show they could hold their own against the Dodgers. They've now had back-to-back wins, scoring 19 runs in the process. I think they've shown that. They given themselves a shot at winning three of four and taking the series. Way to go, Giants!
Kevin Gausman tomorrow afternoon at 1:10 Pacific.
BEAT LA!
--M.C.
5 comments:
The bums starter did not seem to have anywhere near the nasty stuff he had last week when he pitched against the giants. His fastball was flat, and not placed as precisely. Not sure things would have happened the same, but it seemed had Slater not been picked off, the giants may have scored a whole bunch more runs. It would be great if the giants can beat Kershaw. I was watching the Pads, Houston game, and they had a poll to pick the best team, and the 4 teams in the poll did not include the giants. Later in the broadcast they mentioned the teams with the best records, and they mentioned the dodgers and not the giants. Not sure what was going on there. I hope the giants make all these guys pay for disregarding the giants as a team. Giants need to do a better job in getting old man Pujols out. He had a double that was 113 MPH off the bat and then he hit a home run. I suspect the giants will have to mount an offense tomorrow without Posey. I do think that the dodger's decision to have a complete bullpen game in the series opener, probably affected them in the last two games. I had never noticed before how skinny Bickford's arms are. I guess one does not need much muscle to throw in the mid 90's. I kept communicating to the TV that the giants should add on, and I guess it worked.
I like flying under the radar. If the national media wants to ignore the Giants, fine. I just want the team to keep playing well and stay in the hunt. It's always better to be the dark horse, the outsider, the or the underdog!
Giants pitchers got burned yesterday when they left the ball up in the zone. I'm amazed how many pitches our relievers threw that were way off-target. They went to three ball counts on almost every batter. And these are non-competitive pitches, way too far out of the zone to tempt the hitter. The lack of command by both Wisler and Alvarez was irritating.
Anyway, it was a great win, and I don't want to be grumpy. But the relief corps really need to tighten up.
Baragar to the IL, Tropeano takes his spot.
I've been computer-free for a few weeks so don't think I've been indifferent to the recent excitement. As I write we are beating LA 5-0 and Gausmann looks like an elite pitcher, as usual. That catch Friday night (you know which one) was one of the most amazing baseball moments imaginable. Shit like that makes life worth living. Beat LA!!
Indeed. That play was certainly the biggest of the season so far. It's hard to imagine the depths of despair I would have descended to if it had been a loss. Tauchman saved the game and maybe the series. The Giants had not fared well in extras before Friday night, yet they won handily right after that catch. They then won two more games, one a blow-out.
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