You really didn't expect anything different, did you?
Madbum threw a fine game. 7 innings, 100 pitches, 0 runs, 3 walks, 5 hits and several scrapes escaped. He exited with the lead. Brandon Crawford was again responsible for the Giants offense, with a double and the run scored courtesy of Chase d'Arnaud.
Ray Black gave it up in the 8th. He has pitched well, not giving up a run in about 10 outings since his first, shaky debut. Houston hit a home run with a man on base, because, of course they did. The final score was 2 - 1.
Giants failed to score Alen Hanson after his lead-off triple in the 7th, because, of course. I heard the announcers claim that the Giants have more blown saves (25) than any other major league team. I assume they mean blown saves and holds, as today's fail was not technically a save situation. It was not in the 9th inning. No matter.
I like well pitched, low scoring games. I realize that's an anomaly in today's market, where the goal seems to be more runs in less time elapsed. I did not enjoy today's game. As the innings mounted, I expected the Giants to cough it up, and they did. I do not like listening to a game with this feeling.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Monday, August 6, 2018
Cained
HOU 3 SF 1
Dereck Rodriguez made the best start of his young career last time out, a seven-inning, three-hit, one run effort against the Padres on July 31st that resulted in an extra-inning win for the Giants. D-Rod got an ND, of course. Tonight the rookie righty topped that performance with a seven-inning, three-hit, zero-run effort against a much better club, the Astros. Brandon Crawford backed him with a solo shot in the 6th and the Giants went to the 9th with a 1-0 lead. Alas, closer Will Smith was not sharp and gave up a two-out, three-run homer to Marwin Gonzalez that tipped it for Houston. It was Smith's first blown save, he's been a rock in the 'pen otherwise. D-Rod, of course, had another ND.
It was a tough loss for the team especially because it was so close to being one of the best wins of this frustrating season. Charlie Morton, having a great year, delivered seven strong and the Astros 'pen did the rest. The Giants never got anything going on offense, BCraw's blast was the only breakthrough. The takeaway from tonight of course is the fine work, once again, by Dereck Rodriguez. I'm sure you all remember the many heartbreaking losses and no-decisions accumulated by Matt Cain in his early seasons. D-Rod has enjoyed a little more success (he's 5-1, after all), but his two best starts have resulted in two "atta-boys" and that seems particularly Cain-esque. The Giants are back to .500 and seem determined to stay there, but at least we can get excited about a new young arm no matter what else happens.
--M.C.
Dereck Rodriguez made the best start of his young career last time out, a seven-inning, three-hit, one run effort against the Padres on July 31st that resulted in an extra-inning win for the Giants. D-Rod got an ND, of course. Tonight the rookie righty topped that performance with a seven-inning, three-hit, zero-run effort against a much better club, the Astros. Brandon Crawford backed him with a solo shot in the 6th and the Giants went to the 9th with a 1-0 lead. Alas, closer Will Smith was not sharp and gave up a two-out, three-run homer to Marwin Gonzalez that tipped it for Houston. It was Smith's first blown save, he's been a rock in the 'pen otherwise. D-Rod, of course, had another ND.
It was a tough loss for the team especially because it was so close to being one of the best wins of this frustrating season. Charlie Morton, having a great year, delivered seven strong and the Astros 'pen did the rest. The Giants never got anything going on offense, BCraw's blast was the only breakthrough. The takeaway from tonight of course is the fine work, once again, by Dereck Rodriguez. I'm sure you all remember the many heartbreaking losses and no-decisions accumulated by Matt Cain in his early seasons. D-Rod has enjoyed a little more success (he's 5-1, after all), but his two best starts have resulted in two "atta-boys" and that seems particularly Cain-esque. The Giants are back to .500 and seem determined to stay there, but at least we can get excited about a new young arm no matter what else happens.
--M.C.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Giants Eke Out Split
I heard on the radio that since June 20 (I'm pretty sure that was the date mentioned) the Giants have the best ERA, save Boston, of any team in the major leagues. Obviously, Boston has been doing a lot more winning in that time frame. Can that even be right?
Giants salvaged a split in Arizona, which gives them a win for their road trip (4 - 2). That is their first winning road trip this year. They won behind some good pitching from Derek Holland and a spate of relievers by a score of 3 - 2. Nick Hundley got an rbi and Evan Longoria got 2, the second an 8th inning solo shot to give the Giants the lead. Ray Black was on the mound in the 7th, so he was credited with the win. Watson and Dyson pitched the 8th, and Will Smith the 9th. (Also, Reyes Moronta pitched 2/3 of an inning after Holland was pulled after 5 1/3.) The Giants scored 8 runs in the first game of this 4-game series, and 3 in each game thereafter, for a total of 17. The snakes scored 18 total.
So if the Giants are now only 1 game over .500, but their pitching has been very good, I guess you can figure out why they aren't posting a better record. We seem to be in pretty good shape as long as DRod, MadBum or Dutch is on the mound. Maybe Andrew Suarez and Chris Stratton need nicknames. Or maybe Blach needs to start a game, although he has been damn good as a reliever. Maybe Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutcheon can carry a bit of the load until Crawford can get a bit more consistent at the plate and Belt comes back. But the season's running along, the Giants need to improve if they are going to have any hope of an impact. Buster Posey played at first, he went 1 for 3. Houston up next at the Phone. That's not going to be easy.
Giants salvaged a split in Arizona, which gives them a win for their road trip (4 - 2). That is their first winning road trip this year. They won behind some good pitching from Derek Holland and a spate of relievers by a score of 3 - 2. Nick Hundley got an rbi and Evan Longoria got 2, the second an 8th inning solo shot to give the Giants the lead. Ray Black was on the mound in the 7th, so he was credited with the win. Watson and Dyson pitched the 8th, and Will Smith the 9th. (Also, Reyes Moronta pitched 2/3 of an inning after Holland was pulled after 5 1/3.) The Giants scored 8 runs in the first game of this 4-game series, and 3 in each game thereafter, for a total of 17. The snakes scored 18 total.
So if the Giants are now only 1 game over .500, but their pitching has been very good, I guess you can figure out why they aren't posting a better record. We seem to be in pretty good shape as long as DRod, MadBum or Dutch is on the mound. Maybe Andrew Suarez and Chris Stratton need nicknames. Or maybe Blach needs to start a game, although he has been damn good as a reliever. Maybe Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutcheon can carry a bit of the load until Crawford can get a bit more consistent at the plate and Belt comes back. But the season's running along, the Giants need to improve if they are going to have any hope of an impact. Buster Posey played at first, he went 1 for 3. Houston up next at the Phone. That's not going to be easy.
Friday, August 3, 2018
An August Victory
After scoring less than 4 runs per game for July, the Giants beat the dbacks behind Madison Bumgarner tonight by a score of 8 - 1. That suggests that Madison dominated and that the Arizona starter flailed, but neither of those things are true. Zach Greinke threw for the snakes, he was effective and made it through most innings in very few pitches as the Giants made quick outs. Evan Longoria put the Giants on the board with a 1st inning solo home run, and Madison loaded the bases before getting the 3rd out in the 1st. Maddy also loaded the bases in the 2nd, and allowed a tying run to score on a sac fly. He allowed 2 runners on in the 3rd, 1 in the 4th and 1 in the 5th. Somehow, no further runs scored, but by that time he had thrown over 100 pitches and was done for the evening. Maddy's line: 5 innings, 101 pitches, 7 hits, 3 walks, but only 1 run. Meanwhile Greinke allowed only 4 hits and 1 walk. 2 of those hits came in the 5th, when Austin Slater, who is the only Giant who has a batting average that is not totally unimpressive these days, doubled, went to 3rd on a Steve Duggar ground out, and then scored on a Madison Bumgarner rope to left. That was the Giants' second run and Greinke left the game at 2 - 1 Giants.
The game fell apart for the dbacks with their relief - recently acquired Jake Diekman was a mess, walking 2; recently acquired (or, re-acquired) Brad Ziegler gave up 4 runs on 3 hits and TJ McFarland added the 8th. Melancon, Black and Blach allowed no runs in relief.
So that's 4 wins in a row for the Giants, just 1 short of their season's best streak. It is also their 5th consecutive win against the dbacks. LA won (by a lot), so the win only moves the snakes 1 game behind, although Colorado also loses a game. The Panda will need hamstring surgery, so is out for the year. Brandon Belt will need another 8 - 10 days on the DL, according to Alex Pavlovic. Chris Stratton is expected to re-join the Giants.
The game fell apart for the dbacks with their relief - recently acquired Jake Diekman was a mess, walking 2; recently acquired (or, re-acquired) Brad Ziegler gave up 4 runs on 3 hits and TJ McFarland added the 8th. Melancon, Black and Blach allowed no runs in relief.
So that's 4 wins in a row for the Giants, just 1 short of their season's best streak. It is also their 5th consecutive win against the dbacks. LA won (by a lot), so the win only moves the snakes 1 game behind, although Colorado also loses a game. The Panda will need hamstring surgery, so is out for the year. Brandon Belt will need another 8 - 10 days on the DL, according to Alex Pavlovic. Chris Stratton is expected to re-join the Giants.
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