Another Winn!

SF 3  PIT 2

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.

Lucky 13

SF 3  PIT 0

Young southpaw Kyle Harrison had his best start of the season and the Giants added a miracle finish to get their 13th win. It was a tonic after the disappointing bullpen-game loss to the Mets on Wednesday. Which was precipitated by losing Blake Snell to the 15-day IL, an even more disappointing development. Which is why it was especially nice to see a good result for Harrison. He went six and whiffed seven with no walks. Pirates starter Quinn Priester matched him and it stayed scoreless until the final half inning. Hunter Stratton and Aroldis Chapman held the Giants at bay while Ryan Walker and Tyler Rogers kept the Pirates off the board.

In the 9th Camilo Doval put men on the corners to start things off. He then got a strikeout and followed that with a walk to load the bases. Bryan Reynolds then grounded into a double play. After that excitement the Giants had to come up with the winning run. Michael Conforto walked, Matt Chapman singled, and after a wild pitch to move up the runners and crank up the anticipation, Patrick Bailey went yard. His three-run homer sealed the walk-off win.

The Giants are 13-14 and tied with the Pirates for the 16th-best record in MLB, 6-1/2 games off the top spot (Braves, 18-6). Fortunately the Giants are only 3-1/2 back of the 17-11 Dodgers. Jordan Hicks gets the start tonight (6:05 PT).

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Two in a row!

SF 5  NYM 1

Logan Webb retired the first eight hitters he saw tonight on ground balls. He added seven more over the course of eight scoreless frames in a dominant performance. Mets starter Luis Severino matched Webb with four perfect innings but gave up four singles in the 5th for a 3-0 Giants lead. They added two more in the 7th with a couple of extra-base hits. Tyler Rogers had an ugly 9th, giving up three hits and spoiling the shutout, but Camilo Doval bailed him out and saved the win.

Webb followed up rookie Keaton Winn's strong start with an even better one. Not only that, the lineup gave them each five runs to work with. That's a good combination! We'll see if Blake Snell can keep it going. He needs to deliver a good performance and a sweep would be sweet. I try not to read too much into a small subset of games but I like what I saw tonight and last night. The Giants potentially have a really good starting rotation. This looks like a pitching-and-defense club with a solid if unspectacular offense, so if they are to succeed in 2024 the starters will have to lead the way.

It's a getaway game tomorrow so a 12:45 PT start. Off-day Thursday and the Pirates come to town Friday.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants Winn!

SF 5  NYM 2

The Giants put up a couple of crooked numbers early and rode another strong start from rookie Keaton Winn to their 11th victory. Winn dominated through six, dinged only by Mets slugger Pete Alonso's solo shot in the 5th, but ran out of gas in the 7th. Sterling Marte singled to open the frame and Francisco Lindor walked to bring up Alonso. Manager Bob Melvin responded with Ryan Walker who induced an infield fly for the first out. Brett Baty lined out and DJ Stewart grounded out to end the threat. Tyler Rogers had a clean 8th while Camilo Doval had an ugly 9th but they got the last six outs to seal the win.

Winn threw 87 pitches to 21 batters. His final line was 6+ IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 W, 6 K. He's lowered his ERA to 3.54 which is bested only by Logan Webb (2.93) and Jordan Hicks (1.61).

Webb goes tomorrow night (6:45 PT) and Blake Snell is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon (12:45). It's an off-day Thursday and then the Pirates come to town for three over the weekend.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Bailey's Big Day Boosts Giants

SF 7  ARI 3

It was Patrick Bailey Bobblehead Day at the ballpark and the young catcher made the most of it, going 4-for-4 including a homer and two doubles to help the Giants to a bounceback win. Yesterday's stink-o start from veteran lefty Blake Snell led to a lopsided loss. Today's shaky start from rookie lefty Kyle Harrison was rescued by stellar bullpen work and a 16-hit attack. (The Giants need to get their southpaw starters going!)

I was particularly happy to see Jung-Hoo Lee get a couple of key extra-base hits. He led off the game with a homer and then smacked an RBI double in the 8th after a nine-pitch battle. LaMonte Wade, Jr. continues to rake, he's slashing .388/.483/.510 so far. But the day belonged to the backstop and his slash line rose to .340/.397/.560 with that almost-hit-for-the-cycle performance.

Harrison gave up six hits and three runs in four frames. At this point Keaton Winn looks more polished, and further along in his development. Winn is a few years older and played some college ball. I have to remember that Harrison is only 22! The relievers picked up the slack (unlike yesterday) and the lineup delivered a steady attack.

Tomorrow it's Jordan Hicks at 1:05 PT. It's a good matchup with Merrill Kelly.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants blank D'backs

SF 5  ARI 0

Logan Webb gave up hits to the first two batters he faced tonight and then got 19 straight outs (a career high). After a one-out walk in the 7th he picked that guy off and then got the final out of the inning. Giants win two in a row for only the second time this season. And they get their first shutout. A sacrifice fly from LaMonte Wade, Jr. in the 3rd scored Patrick Bailey (who had doubled) with the game's first run. It stayed 1-0 until the 8th when the Giants finally broke through. A pinch-hit double from Wilmer Flores to score two was the big blow, and Mike Yastrzemski added a two-out hit for two more.

Webb whiffed five to go along with 13 groundouts. Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless 8th and Ryan Walker struck out the side in the 9th for a satisfying win against a key division foe. The two teams now have identical 9-11 records.

Blake Snell matches up with Jordan Montgomery tomorrow night (7:15 PT). It's Montgomery's debut for Arizona. Snell's had two forgettable outings so far and everyone is eager to see something better.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants Win with Winn!

SF 3  MIA 1

Rookie Keaton Winn came into today's start with a 3.93 FIP against a 5.06 ERA (and 0-3 W-L record) which I think indicates he's pitched a little better than it looks. Today he got that elusive good result with a sterling six-inning effort that subdued the Marlins. His only blemish was a two-out, two-strike solo shot in the 6th from Bryan De La Cruz. He's Florida's DH and was seeing Winn for the third time. Winn threw 81 pitches to 21 batters, allowing four hits, one walk, and whiffing four. Whatever else happens in this season I'm excited by the young arms on the staff. Winn dropped his ERA by a run and picked up his first W. Rookie Erik Miller threw a scoreless 7th, Tyler Rogers ground-balled his way through the 8th, and Camilo Doval (he's only 26) had a dominant 9th for the save.

It was 1-1 when Winn left but the Giants scored a run in the 7th and another in the 8th to take the game and the series. The offense did just enough today to back up the strong start and solid relief.

Logan Webb (only 27) takes the hill at home against the Diamondbacks tomorrow night (6:45 PT).

Go Giants!

--M.C.