Gausman gets it done

SF 4  CHI 3

A near-nightmare 9th didn't spoil the afternoon for the Giants and they chalked up their 37th win. Kevin Gausman was great again, this time striking out ten in his seven innings of two-hit work. One of the hits was a two-run homer in the 2nd, but that was the only blemish on an otherwise outstanding start. The Giants quickly recovered from the early 2-0 hole, scoring in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th to take a 4-2 lead. Alex Dickerson had an opposite-field homer to get things going, and a three-hit rally in the next inning netted two more. A Brandon Crawford double added the final run.

Jake McGee got it done quickly in the 8th and Tyler Rogers was called on for the 9th. The first batter hit a grounder to Mauricio Dubon at second base and he flubbed it. The next grounder to BCraw got an out on the lead runner but Dubon flubbed the exchange. He was in there as a defensive replacement and he looked bad on back-to-back plays! A ground ball single put two on with one out, and then another grounder between third and short resulted in a collision between Craw and Evan Longoria. A run scored. Rogers then got a huge strikeout, and finally another grounder to end it. Longo had to come out of the game and Dubon moved to third. Donovan Solano was inserted at second base and he handled the final chance.

Whew! Torture! But a win, and that's what matters. The Giants have played eleven games since being swept at home by the Dodgers and they've won nine of them. They've taken the first three from the Cubs and have a chance for a sweep behind Johnny Cueto tomorrow. Game time 1:05 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Four more homers

SF 8  CHI 5

The Giants have hit 83 home runs in their 57 games this season. That's second only to the Braves who have 85. Last night they got the big hit from Alex Dickerson, a three-run bomb in a six-run 2nd inning. Steven Duggar had a solo shot hit a two-run homer in the same frame, and LaMonte Wade, Jr. and Jason Vosler each added solo shots in the 4th. Vosler was pinch-hitting: that's the 7th PH HR by the Giants, they lead the league.

Starter Scott Kazmir didn't fare well, giving up two in two IP, and Dominic Leone gave up two more in his two IP. Zack Littell pitched the 5th and gave up a run, but Conner Menez followed with a scoreless 6th and 7th. Jake McGee and Tyler Rogers closed out the 8th and 9th, with Rogers only needing eight pitches for three groundball outs. For a banged-up team with an emergency starter they fared pretty well!

NL Pitcher of the Month Kevin Gausman goes today at 4:15 Pacific. It's a Fox Saturday game.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

BCraw leads Giants

SF 7  CHI 2

Anthony DeSclafani pitched another good game and this time the Giants relief corps was up to the task and nailed down the win. Brandon Crawford's three-run homer was the big blow. He had another RBI earlier and continues to make big plays in the field. Other than perhaps Buster Posey he's the team position-player MVP at this point. 

Unfortunately the Giants lost two more players to the IL. Logan Webb's shoulder issue re-surfaced, he will miss his next two starts. Mike Yastrzemski sprained his thumb and he'll be out as well.

The Giants came into this season touting their deep roster and it is being put to the test. The Cubs are a good team. Tonight they'll likely go with Conner Menez in place of Webb. They have Nick Tropeano as well. (I'm not sure of Scott Kazmir's status.) Game time 6:45 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Stinker

LAA 8  SF 1

The Giants played a stinker tonight. They haven't played many of those. Alex Wood looked like Alex Wood for two innings and then the wheels came off. Four walks and a hit batter with a few hits sprinkled in and it was 4-0 Angels. Matt Wisler poured gas on the fire and it was 8-0. Angels southpaw starter Andrew Heaney was tough (6-1/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R 1 W, 7 K) and he also had a hit, a walk, and a run scored.

I thought Curt Casali's struggles on offense (.104/.250/.119) would prompt a change and he was placed on the IL with a wrist strain. (Every MLB catcher has a wrist strain or two!) Chadwick Tromp gets the call-up, not Joey Bart. They like what Bart is doing at AAA and he is also just back from injury. Tromp is the emergency guy. Nick Tropeano, who finished up the win yesterday, goes back down. RHP Dominic Leone gets his shot. He's 29 and has 253 innings of ML-experience over seven seasons. Conner Menez is back. He took Scott Kazmir's spot who is on the "restricted" list for some personal issue. Tromp, Leone, and Menez all saw action tonight. Steven Duggar had two of the Giants six hits and scored their lone run.

Off-day tomorrow. The Cubs come to town for a four-game series starting Thursday night.

Go Giants!

--M.C.