Big win takes series

SF 13  BAL 2

Yesterday the Orioles answered for their ass-whuppin' on Friday by smacking around the Giants to the tune of 11-1. This afternoon the Giants did not have to face Trevor Rogers and they reverted back to their winning streak ways with a barrage of hits and another double-digit run total. Heliot Ramos, Rafael Devers, and FNG Drew Gilbert all had three hits and scored two. Those are the 1, 2, and 9 hitters. I like having a good hitter at #9 who can act like a second leadoff man.

Justin Verlander needed 121 pitches to get through five innings but he did that in style with 10 strikeouts and no runs allowed. The O's scored two in their final frame off Spencer Bivens who had pitched a scoreless 7th and 8th (Joey Lucchesi handled the 6th). It was a gritty effort from the veteran who notched his third "W" of the season. I don't think the coaches would allow any other pitcher on the team—including Logan Webb—to throw 120+ pitches! But good for Verlander. It's not like they are saving his arm for next year. Speaking of next year, do they offer JV a contract in the off-season?

The Giants finish the month of August with a 14-14 record. The club is 68-69 with 25 games remaining. They'll need to win 14 games to finish with a better-than-.500 record. And they'll have to keep the pesky D-backs at bay. Tomorrow's game in Colorado is at 1:10 PT. I hope everyone has a restful and enjoyable Labor Day.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants slug past O's

SF 15  BAL 8

The streak is up to SIX wins in a row! They can get back to .500 with a win today. It was one of those games that got crazy right away with a run in the 1st for the Orioles and then four in the bottom half for the Giants. Both starters got clobbered. The Giants scored in each of the first five innings, were blanked in the 6th, and scored in both the 7th and the 8th. Everyone in the lineup had at least one hit, eight guys scored at least one run, and six different hitters had runs batted in. The team was 8-for-17 with RISP.

Willy Adames had four hits but so did Luis Matos (one a homer)! I'm really happy about that. Matos is looking much more mature and confident since his return. FNG Drew Gilbert hit two doubles. I'd like to see him compete for an OF job next spring.

The "who are these guys?" saga continues this afternoon (4:15 PT) as part of Fox Saturday Baseball. Tristan Beck is supposed to get a start.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

 

p.s. It looks like RandyRo might need TJS. And speaking of another Randy, former Giants pitcher Randy Moffitt passed away on Thursday. He had a famous big sister named Billie Jean.  

Giants double up Cubs

SF 4  CHC 3

It was a riveting contest this afternoon in San Francisco. Logan Webb gave up three hits in the 1st but kept it at 1-0 with a double play to end the frame. Willy Adames hit a two-run homer in the bottom half. Dansby Swanson tied it with a homer in the 2nd. The Cubs threatened in the 3rd but a strikeout-caught stealing double play ended it. Patrick Bailey continues to be valuable even when he can't hit. Logan Webb picked off a runner in the 4th—pitchers have as much to do with controlling the running game as catchers. Meanwhile Shoto Imagana was putting up zeroes. In the 6th Michael Busch homered to make it 3-2 Cubs. Willy Adames finally broke the drought for the Giants with another homer to tie the game in the bottom half.

Both starters came out for the 7th and finished the inning, both were charged with three runs. Both allowed two homers. Webb was tagged for seven hits but no walks with seven strikeouts and Imanaga gave up five hits, a walk, and struck out five. 94 pitches/64 strikes for Logan (25 batters) with 92/63 for Shoto (26 batters). That's a real pitcher's duel! Webb got six outs on grounders and four in the air, it was two and seven for Imanaga, but we expect lots of grounders from our guy. A remarkably even contest. I'd say the Giants fielding plays really made the difference.

In the 8th José Buttó gave up a one-out double to Matt Shaw. The next batter Busch hit a liner towards RF that Casey Schmitt speared with a full-extension leap. Shaw had broken for third expecting it to be a hit and they doubled him off to end the inning. Adames took the throw, he was involved in all the double plays and also made a great play throwing out Nico Hoerner to start the 7th. Not a bad day!

The Giants went "up the middle" in the 9th with one-out singles from Schmitt and Wilmer Flores. Christian Koss ran for Schmitt and Jung Hoo Lee rapped a single to right and that was the ballgame. It was a poor throw from RF Owen Caissie and not close at the plate. Koss got a good read and would probably have made it anyway, it would have taken a strong defensive effort to nail him.

Just a dandy win, very nice, and that makes it five in a row. Baltimore is in town for the weekend. Robbie Ray opens the series tomorrow night at 7:15 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Devers delivers in homer-fest

SF 12  CHC 3

Rafael Devers had a perfect night: four hits and a walk in five trips. Two of the hits were homers, one a double, one a single and the result was four runs scored and five driven in. It was a good night for the FNG. You can see why Buster got this guy—he's a genuine hitting talent. He can really mash. The other homers were supplied by Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos. Overall the Giants banged out 13 hits and worked three walks, pounding starter Colin Rea and scoring at least once against each of the three Cubs relievers.

Carson Whisenhunt gave up a three-run homer to Nico Hoerner but otherwise survived his five frames and picked up the win. He got great relief work from Joel Peguero, Tristan Beck, and Carson Seymour.

This is fun! That's four straight wins. I always say "nothing a ten-game win streak can't cure." That would be nice, eh? But I'm trying not to get ahead of myself. This is fun. The Cubs are a good team and the Giants have whipped them twice. Who are these guys?

It's Logan Webb tomorrow afternoon (12:45 Pacific) in the finale. The Orioles come to town for the weekend.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Three in a row

SF 5  CHC 2

The Giants beat a lefty. The Giants beat a lefty. The Giants beat a lefty. Veteran southpaw Matthew Boyd has had a strong season for the playoff-bound Cubs but last night the Giants dinged him for two big homers (both by righties) and held on for the win. Wilmer Flores hit one in the 2nd to open the scoring and Matt Chapman hit a two-run bomb in the 6th to finish things (and chase Boyd). Justin Verlander threw 101 pitches in his six frames and battled through seven hits and two walks to limit the Cubs to just two runs. He got his second "W" of the season! Joey Lucchesi, José Buttó, and Ryan Walker took care of the final three innings.

Two guys we really hope will make an impact next year—Heliot Ramos and Luis Matos—had key hits. Ramos in fact had a perfect night with three hits and walk in four trips.

Tonight's game is also at 6:45 Pacific and it looks like Carson Whisenhunt is scheduled to start. Go Giants!

--M.C. 

Clutch win takes series

SF 4  MIL 3

The Giants took two of three from both the Mets and the Pirates at the start of the month but went 4-10 right after that. Today they came from behind to win a ballgame on the road and take two of three from the high-flying Brewers. Heliot Ramos drove in two with a two-out hit in the 9th and turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Ryan Walker got the final three outs to earn the save. It was another big day for Luis Matos who hit a two-run homer in the 2nd to give Robbie Ray an early lead. He also singled in the 9th after Chapman's double and ahead of Ramos' single and scored the go-ahead run.

FNGs Joel Peguero (1-2/3 IP), Matt Gage (1/3 IP), and José Buttó (1 IP) stepped up in relief of Ray and all had clean sheets. Walker gave up a hit in the 9th but also whiffed two.

I like to say "who are these guys?" when the Giants play a clean, spirited game. Perhaps we are getting a preview of the 2026 club. Regardless, it's always better when they win!

A six-game homestand starts Tuesday night when the Cubs (6:45 PT) are in town for the first three. The Orioles will be in San Francisco for the weekend set. Justin Verlander's on the hill.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Schmitt backs Webb in big win

SF 7  MIL 1

Casey Schmitt had a huge night in Milwaukee driving in four runs on two clutch extra-base hits. In the 6th his double tied the game and in the 7th his one-out three-run homer put it out of reach. Logan Webb supplied the pitching, limiting the Brewers to just one run on five hits in his six frames. Joey Lucchesi covered the 7th and Spencer Bivens did a nice job with two scoreless to close it out.

It's nice to see the team play the kind of ballgame we thought we'd see more of this season. With Matt Chapman back from the IL the team looks more like it should. There's still a hole at second base but maybe this Schmitt fellow can fill the void. Luis Matos had another good night since his return from the minors. Right field is another hole—maybe Matos can be the guy (he was in LF tonight). Speaking of the guy, FNG Drew Gilbert (RF tonight) is still struggling. But he's another guy in the mix for that spot. He is a former 1st-rounder (2022, #28, Astros) and came to the Giants in the Tyler Rogers trade. He plays all three OF spots. Heliot Ramos was off tonight and he's the presumed LF going forward but his fielding is still an issue. Can't hurt to have some depth.

It's an early game tomorrow (11:10 PT). Robbie Ray is scheduled. Maybe he can conjure up a good start and give the team a chance for a getaway win. They're off on Monday and return home to finish out the month.

Go Giants!

--M.C.