The Giants got another strong start from Keaton Winn and they just nipped the Bucs to take the series. That's 6-4 for the homestand: a 2-2 split with Arizona and 2-1 against both New York (N) and Pittsburgh. The Pirates featured rookie phenom Jared Jones (just profiled this morning by David Laurila at FanGraphs!) who came into the game with 39 strikeouts in 29 IP and only nine runs allowed. His arsenal includes a 100-mph heater. The Giants dinged him in the 3rd with back-to-back homers from Thairo Estrada and Mike Yastrzemski. They tacked on another (which proved to be the difference-maker) with singles from Tyler Fitzgerald (he had three hits on the day) and Jung Hoo Lee followed by a sacrifice fly from LaMonte Wade, Jr. The young righty was done after five (83 pitches) but relievers Luis Ortiz and Kyle Nicolas kept the lid on the scoring.
The Pirates got a run off Winn in the 5th and he was done after six (3 H, 1 W, 5 K, 80 pitches). He's lowered his ERA to 3.18 with three straight 6 IP, 1 R performances. Erik Miller and Ryan Walker handled the 7th and the 8th. Camilo Doval was summoned for the 9th and he gave up a run and loaded the bases with two outs but induced Joey Bart (of all people!) to ground out to end it. Whew. Good thing Camilo is tranquilo because I was getting nervous.
I like to see good starting pitching. Kyle Harrison did well last time out, Winn as we've seen is emerging, Jordan Hicks has been really good, and Logan Webb is doing the Logan Webb thing. It's a travel day tomorrow. They open a three-game set in Boston on Tuesday at 4:10 PT (Webb's on the hill).
Go Giants!
--M.C.
3 comments:
This was a great homestand. Our starting pitching, with the exception of Snell and the relief game when Snell went on the IL, has been outstanding.
Webb 7 IP, 0 runs vs AZ
8 IP, 0 runs vs NY (19 scoreless IP)
Harrison 4 IP, 3 runs vs AZ
6 IP, 0 runs vs Pitt
Hicks 5 IP, 1 run vs AZ (game lost in relief)
6 IP, 1 run vs Pitt (game lost in relief)
Winn 6 IP, 1 run vs NY
6 IP, 1 run vs Pitt
Really, we should be at least 7 - 3 on the homestand if not 8 - 2. Webb has been dominant as he can be, but the other 3 starters have given the Giants ample opportunity to win. A Longer outings would be nice, but I think the Giants will be very careful about stretching out anyone but Webb, they are too young (including Hicks given that he is new to working as a starter). Also, a couple guys look pretty good at the plate that haven't lately; Bailey, Estrada, Yaz.
Yeah I feel like they should have won more games with the great stretch of starting pitching. On the plus side it bodes well going forward.
Our starting pitches have the 4th best ERA in the N.L. and that includes Snells disasterous starts. Yet our team ERA is 3rd worst in the league. The team has to figure out its middle relief. That seems to be where the problem is. When I was Erik Miller pitch, I can tell from the video when he is throwing the change up. He arm angle is slightly lower when he throws the change up, and he is a little more off balance. I think major league hitters will catch on if he does not correct this. Yesterday he did not have his curveball. Supposedly Marte, who was traded for Miller, is pitching very well so far this year for the Phillies. The hitting is still very unclutch. The seem to go into freeze mode almost every time they get the opposing pitcher into the stretch.
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