For a team in desperate need of not just a Quality Start but a Dominant Start in the crucial final series against their archrival Dodgers, things were not looking good. If the starting pitching leaked oil for the past couple of weeks, the oil pressure light was on with smoke billowing up from the hood. Anthony DeSclafani RHP came out of his previous start in the third inning with a sore ankle and gave up 22 runs in his previous 21 innings against the Dodgers. His career record against the Hated Ones was something like 1-10. Well, DeSclafani stepped up, bigly! The stands were full of orange pom-poms and the crowd was chanting "Beat LA!" 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K's. He left the game leading 1-0, but that was just the beginning of one of the most intense games in Giants history and there have been a lot of barnburners!
Saturday, September 4, 2021
DeSclafani Steps Up
5 more innings, 5 more pitchers. Jake McGee LHP lost the lead in the 9th but kept the Dodgers from taking the lead themselves. Rob Manfred got the last laugh here because starting the extra-innings with a runner on 2B proved to just increase the intensity with the game in the balance on every pitch. The game finally ended in ecstasy for the Giants and their fans when Buster Posey C ran hard on a routine grounder to 2B and Will Smith C couldn't get his foot back on the bag after Trea Turner 2B pulled him off with an errant throw.
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The AAA Sacramento River Cats put together a combined no-hitter and here's a name to pay attention to: Norwith Gudino RHP. Gudino has been quietly climbing the minor league ladder for several years and is now 25 yo. He started the season with the AA Richmond Flying Squirrels pitching out of the bullpen and got a mid-season promotion after posting a 1.44 ERA in 25 IP. Gudino as the starter for the River Cats last night and went 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K's.
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Thankfully, Trea Turner double clutched on that final ground ball.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I am becoming less worried about the Giants. I picked them to sweep this series with LA. Here is why: If you don't have a game where the runs are abundant, defense - especially late - wins games. I am old enough to remember when the Giants were known for big bats and not so great defense and the Dodger were the reverse, great defense, so-so hitting. These days, we are seeing great defense from the Giants and so-so defense from the Dodgers (both teams, IMO, are hitting well). Last night was the second time we have seen a makeable play being mangled that cost the Dodger the game (a few week's back, in LA, an errant throw by the SS pulled the 2B off the bag, preventing a force out a second that would have ended the game- and a game the Dodgers should have won was lost). I do not believe the Dodgers have the defense, or the bullpen, to win close games this year. Yes, when they are hitting, they can bury you. But in a close game? I am taking the Giants.
ReplyDeleteI don't follow the Dodgers, but heard last night they are now 4 wins 13 losses in extra inning games which surprised me. I think they lost another game to the Giants on a throwing error by Bellinger late in the game.
DeleteTurner
DeleteAfter the Giants regained first place by beating the Dodgers two out of three games, it'll be interesting to see if anyone still gives the Dodgers an edge in the power ranking lists.
ReplyDelete...and 10 of last 15 H2H games.
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