SF 5 SD 4 (12)
Madison Bumgarner's pinch-hit in the 12th wins it for the Giants, driving in Gorkys Hernandez who had tripled. It was a long and painful game but it was a win, and all wins are to be celebrated especially after four losses in a row. Chris Stratton had an inning from hell in the 3rd and was done by the 5th, and Will Smith blew a save in the 9th, but it all worked out. Gregor Blanco had a clutch pinch-hit to give the Giants a late lead, and Hunter Pence hit a homer. The Giants have 11 wins in 18 games against the Padres, but it doesn't seem like it.
Casey Kelley gets the start tomorrow night. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Showing posts with label Stratton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stratton. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Friday, September 14, 2018
Stopper Stratton
SF 2 COL 0
I've always hated the idea of a 'stopper' in baseball, it's such a negative thing. Instead of a guy who helps you win you have a guy that stops you from losing. Terrible. But baseball is as much about losing as it is about winning. Kind of like what one guy--I can't remember who--said about writing, that it was really about managing writer's block. I can relate to that. So tonight we got a guy who stopped the losing, and far from a negative thing it was an enormous positive event. I know "enormous" is hyperbolic, by my goodness an eleven-game losing streak is a string of events that even hyperbole can't encompass.
Chris Stratton breathed life into the gasping near-corpse that is the 2018 Giants with a scintillating shutout of the first-place Colorado Rockies. It was his first MLB complete game and the first by a Giants pitcher this season. The 27-year old from Tupelo allowed only two hits and two walks and kept the Rockies from making solid contact all night long with a dazzling array of curveballs and superb command of the fastball and cutter. Despite leading the club in pitcher-wins (10) it has been a hard slog for the former first-rounder. Only half (12 of 25) of his starts have been of the QS variety (min 6 IP, max 3 RA). Eleven times he's lasted five or fewer frames. Eight of those he's allowed four or more runs. But at the end of August he threw eight scoreless against the D-Backs at home and followed that with a solid effort against the Mets. He got rocked in Milwaukee, but responded with his best-ever effort tonight to play the stopper.
The Giants ended their eleven-game slide, the worst in the sixty-year history of the San Francisco franchise. Like I said, baseball is as much about losing as it is about winning. How you manage your losing streaks--and they will come to all ballclubs--says much about you. Just like how players manage those inevitable slumps. They will happen to every one in uniform, no exceptions. The Giants have played themselves into a gaping organizational cavern, and how they'll find their way out is anyone's guess. But at least we can get excited about a terrific performance by a player that will probably be an important piece of next year's team. For tonight, that's all right. Nice work, Strat. Keep it up!
--M.C.
I've always hated the idea of a 'stopper' in baseball, it's such a negative thing. Instead of a guy who helps you win you have a guy that stops you from losing. Terrible. But baseball is as much about losing as it is about winning. Kind of like what one guy--I can't remember who--said about writing, that it was really about managing writer's block. I can relate to that. So tonight we got a guy who stopped the losing, and far from a negative thing it was an enormous positive event. I know "enormous" is hyperbolic, by my goodness an eleven-game losing streak is a string of events that even hyperbole can't encompass.
Chris Stratton breathed life into the gasping near-corpse that is the 2018 Giants with a scintillating shutout of the first-place Colorado Rockies. It was his first MLB complete game and the first by a Giants pitcher this season. The 27-year old from Tupelo allowed only two hits and two walks and kept the Rockies from making solid contact all night long with a dazzling array of curveballs and superb command of the fastball and cutter. Despite leading the club in pitcher-wins (10) it has been a hard slog for the former first-rounder. Only half (12 of 25) of his starts have been of the QS variety (min 6 IP, max 3 RA). Eleven times he's lasted five or fewer frames. Eight of those he's allowed four or more runs. But at the end of August he threw eight scoreless against the D-Backs at home and followed that with a solid effort against the Mets. He got rocked in Milwaukee, but responded with his best-ever effort tonight to play the stopper.
The Giants ended their eleven-game slide, the worst in the sixty-year history of the San Francisco franchise. Like I said, baseball is as much about losing as it is about winning. How you manage your losing streaks--and they will come to all ballclubs--says much about you. Just like how players manage those inevitable slumps. They will happen to every one in uniform, no exceptions. The Giants have played themselves into a gaping organizational cavern, and how they'll find their way out is anyone's guess. But at least we can get excited about a terrific performance by a player that will probably be an important piece of next year's team. For tonight, that's all right. Nice work, Strat. Keep it up!
--M.C.
Friday, June 1, 2018
Shutout!
SF 4 PHI 0
Chris Stratton and three relievers (Tony Watson, Sam Dyson, Hunter Strickland) combine to blank the Phillies to open the month of June. Giants hurlers allowed six singles and a walk while whiffing thirteen. It was a crisp and efficient win featuring the return of Joe Panik who was on base four times at the leadoff spot in his return from the DL. But the real story was a strong start from Stratton, a bounce back for him after an ugly month of May (19 runs in 25-2/3 innings). For the Giants to be competitive they have to get consistent starts so they can use their excellent bullpen effectively without burning them out. Brandon Crawford had two hits and is now slashing .311/.352/.474 to go along with his outstanding glove work. Brandon Belt left the game after two innings which was reported on the broadcast as stomach pain, a tweet from Baggs says he's getting checked for appendicitis. Let's hope he and his .950 OPS are back soon.
Andy Suarez takes the hill tomorrow night (7:05 p.m.). Go Giants!
--M.C.
Chris Stratton and three relievers (Tony Watson, Sam Dyson, Hunter Strickland) combine to blank the Phillies to open the month of June. Giants hurlers allowed six singles and a walk while whiffing thirteen. It was a crisp and efficient win featuring the return of Joe Panik who was on base four times at the leadoff spot in his return from the DL. But the real story was a strong start from Stratton, a bounce back for him after an ugly month of May (19 runs in 25-2/3 innings). For the Giants to be competitive they have to get consistent starts so they can use their excellent bullpen effectively without burning them out. Brandon Crawford had two hits and is now slashing .311/.352/.474 to go along with his outstanding glove work. Brandon Belt left the game after two innings which was reported on the broadcast as stomach pain, a tweet from Baggs says he's getting checked for appendicitis. Let's hope he and his .950 OPS are back soon.
Andy Suarez takes the hill tomorrow night (7:05 p.m.). Go Giants!
--M.C.
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Wrigley Win
SF 5 CHC 4
The Giants looked good in sunny Chicago this afternoon and held on to beat the Cubs. Gorkys Hernandez flashed some mad small ball skills and Brandon Crawford dazzled with the bat and the glove and the visiting squad snapped their three-game skid. Contributions from Brandon Belt, Andrew McCutchen, and Mac Williamson did the rest of the damage as the Giants overcame 2-0 and 3-2 deficits. Hernandez is slashing .311/.333/.505 with 12 hits in his last eight games so I think he's earning his playing time. Chris Stratton faltered, but didn't fall apart, and finished strong, striking out six in his five innings (21 batters, 88 pitches) and leaving with a 4-3 lead. Reyes Moronta and Sam Dyson put up zeroes in their frames but Tony Watson gave us a scare with two hits and a run in the 8th. Fortunately Hunter Strickland had a 1-2-3 9th to seal it and the Giants had an impressive, well-played win.
Ty Blach tomorrow at 5:08 Pacific. GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
The Giants looked good in sunny Chicago this afternoon and held on to beat the Cubs. Gorkys Hernandez flashed some mad small ball skills and Brandon Crawford dazzled with the bat and the glove and the visiting squad snapped their three-game skid. Contributions from Brandon Belt, Andrew McCutchen, and Mac Williamson did the rest of the damage as the Giants overcame 2-0 and 3-2 deficits. Hernandez is slashing .311/.333/.505 with 12 hits in his last eight games so I think he's earning his playing time. Chris Stratton faltered, but didn't fall apart, and finished strong, striking out six in his five innings (21 batters, 88 pitches) and leaving with a 4-3 lead. Reyes Moronta and Sam Dyson put up zeroes in their frames but Tony Watson gave us a scare with two hits and a run in the 8th. Fortunately Hunter Strickland had a 1-2-3 9th to seal it and the Giants had an impressive, well-played win.
Ty Blach tomorrow at 5:08 Pacific. GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Giants Thump Rockies
SF 9 COL 4
Finally! The Giants break through today with 17 hits and overwhelm the Rockies to snap their three-game losing streak and creep back to within one game of a .500 record. Brandon Crawford was the hitting star with three hits (including a two-run homer) and four runs batted in. Brandon Belt continued his run of good work with two hits, a walk, a run scored, and a run batted in. Andrew McCutchen had three hits and two runs batted in. In fact all nine spots in the lineup had a hit, Austin Jackson getting a single in the 5th pinch-hitting for starter Chris Stratton (who also drove in a run with a ground out in the 2nd). Speaking of Stratton, he labored, facing 23 batters in his five innings (8 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 1 whiff), but two of the Rockies runs scored on double plays. He wasn't pretty but he held on and the lineup and bullpen did the rest. The Giants relief corps is increasingly impressive and that was no exception today with four hurlers (Will Smith, Pierce Johnson, Sam Dyson, Tony Watson) delivering a scoreless frame each with only one hit and one walk allowed versus five strikeouts. The 'pen looks like a team strength and the return of Mark Melancon (two weeks?) ought to only make it better.
Ty Blach gets the call tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Finally! The Giants break through today with 17 hits and overwhelm the Rockies to snap their three-game losing streak and creep back to within one game of a .500 record. Brandon Crawford was the hitting star with three hits (including a two-run homer) and four runs batted in. Brandon Belt continued his run of good work with two hits, a walk, a run scored, and a run batted in. Andrew McCutchen had three hits and two runs batted in. In fact all nine spots in the lineup had a hit, Austin Jackson getting a single in the 5th pinch-hitting for starter Chris Stratton (who also drove in a run with a ground out in the 2nd). Speaking of Stratton, he labored, facing 23 batters in his five innings (8 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 1 whiff), but two of the Rockies runs scored on double plays. He wasn't pretty but he held on and the lineup and bullpen did the rest. The Giants relief corps is increasingly impressive and that was no exception today with four hurlers (Will Smith, Pierce Johnson, Sam Dyson, Tony Watson) delivering a scoreless frame each with only one hit and one walk allowed versus five strikeouts. The 'pen looks like a team strength and the return of Mark Melancon (two weeks?) ought to only make it better.
Ty Blach gets the call tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Monday, May 14, 2018
Giants outlast Reds
SF 10 CIN7
The first six guys in the Giants lineup all had at least one hit and scored at least one run and the eighth guy, Kelby Tomlinson, drove in two runs with a hit in the 3rd. That's what I call a team effort. Brandon Belt led the way with three hits including a double and a homer and three RBI. And they needed it as starter Chris Stratton was a little shaky, giving up nine hits and four runs in his five innings against a hot Reds team that had won six straight. Home cookin', I suppose, is always best and the Giants looked rejuvenated tonight after their painful 4-6 trip. Speaking of Kelby, the injuries to Joe Panik and Alan Hanson have forced the team into using the utility man as the starter at the keystone, and he was in the middle of all three double plays the Giants turned. Let's hope he can hold down that spot with solid play on both sides of the ball. Rookie Austin Slater, just called up, had a hit and a walk and two stolen bases. By the way those six consecutive wins the Reds had before tonight included a four-game sweep of the Dodgers in LA. Pierce Johnson (1), Cory Gearrin (2), and Jose Valdez (1) finished up. The youngster allowed a three-run homer with two outs in the 9th, but ten runs was still enough for the win.
One-fourth of the way through the season (42 games) and the team is at .500 with a 21-21 record. It's not exactly pretty, but with all the injuries and roster moves I have to feel encouraged. A little stability in the rotation coupled with some consistency on offense and this could be a really good club. Not asking a lot, am I?
Ty Blach tomorrow night. Go Giants!
--M.C.
The first six guys in the Giants lineup all had at least one hit and scored at least one run and the eighth guy, Kelby Tomlinson, drove in two runs with a hit in the 3rd. That's what I call a team effort. Brandon Belt led the way with three hits including a double and a homer and three RBI. And they needed it as starter Chris Stratton was a little shaky, giving up nine hits and four runs in his five innings against a hot Reds team that had won six straight. Home cookin', I suppose, is always best and the Giants looked rejuvenated tonight after their painful 4-6 trip. Speaking of Kelby, the injuries to Joe Panik and Alan Hanson have forced the team into using the utility man as the starter at the keystone, and he was in the middle of all three double plays the Giants turned. Let's hope he can hold down that spot with solid play on both sides of the ball. Rookie Austin Slater, just called up, had a hit and a walk and two stolen bases. By the way those six consecutive wins the Reds had before tonight included a four-game sweep of the Dodgers in LA. Pierce Johnson (1), Cory Gearrin (2), and Jose Valdez (1) finished up. The youngster allowed a three-run homer with two outs in the 9th, but ten runs was still enough for the win.
One-fourth of the way through the season (42 games) and the team is at .500 with a 21-21 record. It's not exactly pretty, but with all the injuries and roster moves I have to feel encouraged. A little stability in the rotation coupled with some consistency on offense and this could be a really good club. Not asking a lot, am I?
Ty Blach tomorrow night. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Lose Big or Don't Lose at All
Seems like that's the Giants' philosophy, lately. In the last 6 games, the Giants have been outscored 42 - 30. The Giants have won 4 of those games.
The Giants won 2 of 3 against the Nationals, dropping the finale 15 - 2. The Giants won Friday night, 6 - 4. That game featured a go-ahead balk to give the Giants a 5 - 4 lead in the 7th.
Weird twin bill today. Joe Panik is on the DL and Mac Williamson is on the concussion DL. The Giants started new father Chris Stratton, hoping to have a game that saved their bullpen for the night game, followed by 4 straight before a break next Thursday. Chris lasted 1 1/3 innings. 6 runs were charged to his record. Ouch. He was matched against dogger youngster Walker Buehler who also labored in the 1st, giving up 2 runs to the Giants, but hung in through 5 and got a win. After Stratton, the Giants pitched Roberto Gomez, up from Sacramento; Derek Law and Cory Gearrin for 1 out. The Giants finally found an effective pitcher for the 9th. It was Pablo Sandoval. He threw only 11 pitches to get 3 outs. The totals: 215 pitches for the Giants, a guy named Alen Hanson, up from the minors to fill in for Panik, hit a 3 run home run, Derek Law got his first major league hit and a final score of 15 - 6.
In the nightcap, the Giants faced Alex Wood with Johnny Cueto on the mound. JC started off with 3 hits and 2 runs to the first 3 batters, including a home run to the 2nd, Cory Seager. After that, though, the doggers did not have a base runner until the 5th when Cueto walked 2. The Giants scored 3 in the 5th on a bases-clearing double by Austin Jackson. That gave Cueto, who pitched 6, the win. Reyes Moronta, normally so dependable, could not get an out in the 7th, but Sam Dyson handily cleaned up the bases loaded threat allowing only 1 run. The Giants used another newbie, DJ Snelton in the 8th, but he ran into trouble in the 9th and Hunter Strickland bailed him out. Meanwhile the Giants tacked on rbis by Belt, Longoria and Tomlinson. The final score was 8 - 3.
So the Giants will not lose this series. The final is tomorrow, Blach is scheduled against Maeda. It will be the 10th meeting between LA and the Giants and it is not yet May. Then the tough Padres come into town for 3 before the Giants take off on a road trip to Atlanta, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The Giants are 1 game under .500, but in third place in the NL West, 1/2 game in front of LA.
The Giants won 2 of 3 against the Nationals, dropping the finale 15 - 2. The Giants won Friday night, 6 - 4. That game featured a go-ahead balk to give the Giants a 5 - 4 lead in the 7th.
Weird twin bill today. Joe Panik is on the DL and Mac Williamson is on the concussion DL. The Giants started new father Chris Stratton, hoping to have a game that saved their bullpen for the night game, followed by 4 straight before a break next Thursday. Chris lasted 1 1/3 innings. 6 runs were charged to his record. Ouch. He was matched against dogger youngster Walker Buehler who also labored in the 1st, giving up 2 runs to the Giants, but hung in through 5 and got a win. After Stratton, the Giants pitched Roberto Gomez, up from Sacramento; Derek Law and Cory Gearrin for 1 out. The Giants finally found an effective pitcher for the 9th. It was Pablo Sandoval. He threw only 11 pitches to get 3 outs. The totals: 215 pitches for the Giants, a guy named Alen Hanson, up from the minors to fill in for Panik, hit a 3 run home run, Derek Law got his first major league hit and a final score of 15 - 6.
In the nightcap, the Giants faced Alex Wood with Johnny Cueto on the mound. JC started off with 3 hits and 2 runs to the first 3 batters, including a home run to the 2nd, Cory Seager. After that, though, the doggers did not have a base runner until the 5th when Cueto walked 2. The Giants scored 3 in the 5th on a bases-clearing double by Austin Jackson. That gave Cueto, who pitched 6, the win. Reyes Moronta, normally so dependable, could not get an out in the 7th, but Sam Dyson handily cleaned up the bases loaded threat allowing only 1 run. The Giants used another newbie, DJ Snelton in the 8th, but he ran into trouble in the 9th and Hunter Strickland bailed him out. Meanwhile the Giants tacked on rbis by Belt, Longoria and Tomlinson. The final score was 8 - 3.
So the Giants will not lose this series. The final is tomorrow, Blach is scheduled against Maeda. It will be the 10th meeting between LA and the Giants and it is not yet May. Then the tough Padres come into town for 3 before the Giants take off on a road trip to Atlanta, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The Giants are 1 game under .500, but in third place in the NL West, 1/2 game in front of LA.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Mac & Strat
SF 4 WSH 2
Chris Stratton out-dueled Gio Gonzalez and led the way with a solid 6-2/3 to prevail over the Nationals. Mac Williamson had the big hit, a two-run homer in the 6th that proved to be the difference. Brandon Belt led off the inning with a walk, chasing Gonzalez, and reliever Shawn Kelly coughed up a 464-foot space probe that almost hit the bricks behind the bleachers in right-center. Right-handers don't usually hit opposite-field homers in San Francisco and certainly not ones that deep. Keep on rockin', Mac.
Speaking of rockin', Chris Stratton has logged 31 innings in 2018 with only 19 hits and 9 runs allowed. Like Johnny Cueto he has yet to give up a long ball. Both Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen flubbed playable balls (Cutch was charged with an error) in the 6th with one out, putting two on, but Strat pitched out of the jam expertly. It was a big moment in the game, much like Mac's blast. The Giants need that kind of execution up and down the roster.
Two wins in a row, both against good teams. The Giants finally get to double-digits in wins! Ty Blach goes tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Chris Stratton out-dueled Gio Gonzalez and led the way with a solid 6-2/3 to prevail over the Nationals. Mac Williamson had the big hit, a two-run homer in the 6th that proved to be the difference. Brandon Belt led off the inning with a walk, chasing Gonzalez, and reliever Shawn Kelly coughed up a 464-foot space probe that almost hit the bricks behind the bleachers in right-center. Right-handers don't usually hit opposite-field homers in San Francisco and certainly not ones that deep. Keep on rockin', Mac.
Speaking of rockin', Chris Stratton has logged 31 innings in 2018 with only 19 hits and 9 runs allowed. Like Johnny Cueto he has yet to give up a long ball. Both Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen flubbed playable balls (Cutch was charged with an error) in the 6th with one out, putting two on, but Strat pitched out of the jam expertly. It was a big moment in the game, much like Mac's blast. The Giants need that kind of execution up and down the roster.
Two wins in a row, both against good teams. The Giants finally get to double-digits in wins! Ty Blach goes tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
GIANTS WIN!
SF 4 AZ 3 (10)
I was OK with leaving Chris Stratton in to pitch the 8th, it was the bottom of the lineup after all, and it's not like the Giants bullpen was necessarily a better bet. It didn't work out--he gave up two booming hits and a run. And then it did--Tony Watson miraculously got out of the inning with a 2-1 lead. And then it didn't--Hunter Strickland blew the save in the 9th. And then it did--Brandon Belt launched a two-run blast in the 10th to make it 4-2 Giants. It was Belt's 100th career homer. Cory Gearrin tried to blow the save in the bottom of the inning, but held on for a 4-3 win. Evan Longoria was the other half of the Giants offense, he hit a two-run homer in the 6th.
I'm happy that Stratton has looked very strong in his last two outings: 14 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 3 W, 12 K. Tonight was only his fourteenth ML start--he's yet to top 100 IP for his career. We are just starting to see what the former 1st-rounder is capable of, at age 27 (28 in August) he seems to be putting his game together. That bodes well for this season and beyond, I think.
Ty Blach matches up with Zack Greinke tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
I was OK with leaving Chris Stratton in to pitch the 8th, it was the bottom of the lineup after all, and it's not like the Giants bullpen was necessarily a better bet. It didn't work out--he gave up two booming hits and a run. And then it did--Tony Watson miraculously got out of the inning with a 2-1 lead. And then it didn't--Hunter Strickland blew the save in the 9th. And then it did--Brandon Belt launched a two-run blast in the 10th to make it 4-2 Giants. It was Belt's 100th career homer. Cory Gearrin tried to blow the save in the bottom of the inning, but held on for a 4-3 win. Evan Longoria was the other half of the Giants offense, he hit a two-run homer in the 6th.
I'm happy that Stratton has looked very strong in his last two outings: 14 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 3 W, 12 K. Tonight was only his fourteenth ML start--he's yet to top 100 IP for his career. We are just starting to see what the former 1st-rounder is capable of, at age 27 (28 in August) he seems to be putting his game together. That bodes well for this season and beyond, I think.
Ty Blach matches up with Zack Greinke tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Back to .500
SF 7 SD 0
Giants bounce back from their 3-4 homestand with a big win in San Diego. Chris Stratton held the Padres to only one hit in his seven innings of work. Except for a 32-pitch, two-walk 5th he was in command the whole way. The lineup jumped on Padres starter Bryan Mitchell immediately, scoring three in the 1st, and then added four more off Colten Brewer in the 6th. When Mitchell was pulled in the 3rd Andy Green called on Clayton Richard to pinch-hit. His single was the one Padres hit!
That's the third team shutout. The first was Blach/Osich/Gearrin/Watson/Strickland. The second was Cueto/Watson/Strickland. This one was Stratton/Law. Derek Law was just recalled today as Andrew Suarez (who showed some moxie in his debut) was sent back down.
Ty Blach tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Giants bounce back from their 3-4 homestand with a big win in San Diego. Chris Stratton held the Padres to only one hit in his seven innings of work. Except for a 32-pitch, two-walk 5th he was in command the whole way. The lineup jumped on Padres starter Bryan Mitchell immediately, scoring three in the 1st, and then added four more off Colten Brewer in the 6th. When Mitchell was pulled in the 3rd Andy Green called on Clayton Richard to pinch-hit. His single was the one Padres hit!
That's the third team shutout. The first was Blach/Osich/Gearrin/Watson/Strickland. The second was Cueto/Watson/Strickland. This one was Stratton/Law. Derek Law was just recalled today as Andrew Suarez (who showed some moxie in his debut) was sent back down.
Ty Blach tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
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