Webb leads Giants

SF 4  LA 1

Logan Webb has not had an easy time against the Dodgers. Other than his memorable performances in the 2021 playoffs (2 GS, 14-2/3 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 W, 17 K) his career line coming into tonight's start was a modest 3-6 in 13 starts with a 4.41 ERA (67-2/3 IP, 70 H, 38 R, 20 W, 56 K). Webb labored in the 1st, throwing 30 pitches while wriggling out of a bases-loaded jam. He added another 23 in the 2nd but settled down after that, needing only 50 pitches to throw another four scoreless. He finished with just three hits allowed (all singles) in his six innings but added an uncharacteristic three walks (with five strikeouts). Sean Hjelle and Erik Miller combined for another zero in the 7th and Tyler Rogers gave up a run in 8th. Camilo Doval put two on in the 9th but closed it out for a tidy win.

Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run homer in the 3rd, driving in the just-acquired Curt Casali. Luis Matos made a great play in center field in the 4th to save a home run and he also added a two-out RBI hit in the 8th. Heliot Ramos also had a two-out RBI hit, this one in the 6th, as the Giants added on late to secure their first win against the Dodgers this season. It's an off-day tomorrow and then the Rockies come to town for three on the weekend.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Early lead holds up

SF 8  COL 6

Nothing is ever for sure at Coors Field. The Giants had a nice 7-0 lead after three but the Rockies chipped away at Jordan Hicks and he left after five with a 7-3 cushion. Sean Hjelle gave up a run in the 6th but the Giants countered with one in the 7th. Camilo Doval entered the 9th with a 8-4 lead and he gave up a two-run homer after two were out but that was it. The Giants make it two in a row. It seems they've found a team that's worse than them.

It was a well-rounded thirteen-hit attack with Michael Conforto and Blake Sabol getting three apiece. Jorge Soler was put on the 10-day IL and Heliot Ramos was called up to take his spot. He had an RBI hit in the 2nd and scored a run in that big six-run rally.

Keaton Winn is coming off his worst start (2/3 IP, 5 R in Philly) which ballooned his ERA from 3.18 to 4.41. Like us I'm sure he's hoping for something better in the getaway game tomorrow at 12:10 Pacific. The Giants come back to San Francisco for a nine-game homestand starting Friday. I'll be away from my desk for a few days so I may not get a chance to post, so keep up the talk in the comments.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants snap skid

SF 5  COL 0

Coors Field is a tough place to pitch but Kyle Harrison made it look easy. He mowed down the Rockies over seven scoreless frames. It took him 86 pitches to get the 21 outs, giving up only four hits and two walks. He whiffed just two but eleven ground outs made up the difference. All the hits were singles. That's three nice starts in a row from Harrison: 18 IP, 12 H, 1 R, 7 W, 16 K. That was his fifteenth career start and he turns 23 in August. I think he's coming along just fine.

Ryan Walker struck out all three of the batters he faced in the 8th. Camilo Doval, who did not appear in the four losses in Philadelphia, walked two but also whiffed two in his inning and the Giants had a shutout. He benefited from a nice play from Thairo Estrada to get the first out in the 9th. Harrison got backing early when the Giants put up a four-spot in the 4th with a slew of singles. They had ten hits total, nine singles and a double (Yaz).

Jordan Hicks tomorrow, 5:40 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

2nd inning: 8-10

PHI 6  SF 1 

1st inning: 7-11

2nd inning: 8-10

The just-completed four-game set in Philadelphia turned out to be a showcase for the Phillies. The Giants provided a bit of competition, but the show was all about the powerhouse local squad who rocketed to the best record in baseball with an emphatic sweep. There were two close games, Friday's 4-3 loss behind Jordan Hicks and Sunday's 5-4 loss behind Logan Webb. Neither starter was effective—that's the second straight poor outing by Webb. Saturday is not worth mentioning and today rookie Mason Black's debut was spoiled by Bryce Harper. He hit a three-run homer off Black today and also hit one off Webb yesterday. He had a ridiculous series: four hits, six walks, five runs, six RBI.

There was a stretch where it seemed the rotation was coming together but then Blake Snell went on the shelf, the aces wilted, and the rookies got hammered. Kyle Harrison had a decent start in Boston and he'll get the start in Colorado tomorrow (5:40 PT).

The league averages 4.34 runs scored per game. The Giants don't score enough (3.67 rpg) and don't prevent scoring (4.81 rpg) well enough, either. They actually have a better record than their run difference (-41) suggests but that's not reassuring. This series in Philly was very discouraging. I realize they are really good but that's no excuse for such a pasting. I thought the problem with the last few years of Giants teams was the manager and the players. So they got a new manager and new players and yet they have the same results. Their 15-21 record is good for a .417 percentage. Only five teams are worse. Good thing there are a lot of games (126) left.

Like I said, they go to Colorado. Wednesday is also 5:40 (Hicks) and the getaway game Thursday is 12:10 (Winn). They are back home Friday where they are at least a decent team (9-7).

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants avoid sweep

SF 3  BOS 1

After a couple of feeble losses the Giants put together a great pitching performance and added just enough offense to win the getaway game at Fenway. Kyle Harrison walked five but also struck out seven and allowed just three hits and one run in his five innings. Two of the hits were doubles but none left the yard. A 3rd-inning homer by Mike Yastrzemski was all the Giants could manage until the 7th. Three singles to start the frame plated the go-ahead run and a sacrifice fly added the other. Four innings of stellar, one-hit relief pitching made the difference. Ryan Walker needed 16 pitches for the 6th, giving up a single but also getting a strikeout. Erik Miller got three outs, one a strikeout, on 15 pitches in the 7th. Tyler Rogers got two groundouts and added a strikeout and only needed 8 pitches in the 8th. Camilo Doval went 3-and-2 to the first batter but then got a groundout, struck out the next guy, and closed it with a lineout, 14 pitches in all. Nice work—only one batter over the minimum.

Tuesday's shockingly poor start from Logan Webb was supported by four hits, all singles. Even if he'd pitched well they would have lost the game. Wednesday's bullpen game wasn't much better, only five hits, but at least there was one double and one homer and thus a couple of runs. This offense should be better. Right now it's all on the pitchers.

It's a tough road ahead: they go to Philadelphia for three four starting tomorrow. The Phillies are 21-11, the third-best record in MLB, just behind the Braves (20-9) and Guardians (20-10). Like the Red Sox the Phillies pitch really well. The Giants will have to match it. Jordan Hicks goes tomorrow against Aaron Nola (3:40 PT), Keaton Winn faces Ranger Suarez on Saturday (3:05 PT), and Logan Webb matches up with Tijuan Walker on Sunday (4:10 PT). Monday (1:05 PT) is TBD. It was encouraging to see a big game from the relief corps, don't you think?

Go Giants!

--M.C.