Game Wrap 9/11/2023: Giants 5 Guardians 4(10 innings)

 Blake Sabol drove in the tying run in the bottom of the 10'th inning then score on a walkoff single by Lamonte Wade Jr in a resilient Giants win.  Key Lines:  

Mike Yastrzemski RF- 2 for 3, 2B, HR(14).  BA= .254.  YtY is on a tear, batting .410 over his last 15 games.  Per Kruk and Kuip his recent success may stem from a happy birthday call he made to his Uncle Carl who, before Mike could get out the well wishes said, "you're taking too many pitches!"  OK then, I guess when your Grandpa Carl is a HOF'er, you best pay attention.  Then he gets taken out of the game for a PH.  As another HOF'er, Vin Scully, would say, "go figure!"  

Joc Pederson DH- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .249.  He was also the "ghost runner" in the 10'th inning and scored the tying run.  Joc is 5 for 12 over his last 3 games and he's raised his BA from a nadir of .230 on August 7.  As slim as the pickings are for free agency this winter, the Giants might think about bringing him back on a short term contract with lower AAV.  Coming off a QO contract, I would also think Joc may want to test his market and the Giants might want to let him. 

Blake Sabol PH/C- 1 for 2.  BA= .243.  Speaking of coming back next year, as Sabol was struggling with glove angles trying to catch Camilo Doval's high octane stuff, I wondered out loud what the future holds for him?  He answered that by taking over the game at the plate in the bottom of the 10'th inning.  Sabol entered the game earlier as a PH for J. D. Davis 3B and after Austin Slater PH for Joey Bart C.  My friend pointed out that Kap probably prefers Sabol's LH bat over Bart's RH bat and Bart does not have Sabol's position flexibility so the prediction here is, barring injury, that Sabol will be the back up C next season with Bart either optioned back to AAA or traded.

Lamonte Wade Jr 1B- 3 for 5.  BA= .258.  Late Night Lamonte rides again!  After slumping in the second half, LMWJ is on a .375 tear over his last 7 games and had the walk-off hit tonight.

Austin Slater PH/CF- 2 for 2.  BA= .258.  Kap rolled the dice again by PH for his catcher with only 1 backup.  Slater delivered the PH and an additional base hit but ended up not figuring in the scoring.

Alex Cobb RHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.62.  Cobb's start was pushed back due to getting a cortisone injection for something called a hip impingement.  He was clearly in pain in the first inning and not finishing off his pitches.  I was 99% sure the trainer was going to take him out of the game after a particularly painful looking pitch.  Cobb stayed in and got through the inning then all but limped off the field.  I was again sure he would not come out for the the second inning.  He seemed noticeably more comfortable in the second inning but gave up a 2-run bomb to one of the Naylors in the third inning.  He still stayed in the game to finish 5 innings.  Wonder how he'll feel when he gets up in the morning?

The Win put the Giants into a tie with the Marlins for the top non-playoff team in the NL but still trail the D'Backs for the first Wild Card playoff spot by 1.5 games.

Sean Manaea LHP finally gets a Start tonight facing Cal Quantrill RHP.

Churn Watch:  Patrick Bailey C is reportedly ready to come off the concussion IL as soon as he is eligible.  That would be in 2 days this Wed.  Michael Conforto OF and Ross Stripling RHP are playing simulated games and appear close to being ready to return.  Stripling is chirping that he's ready to return now.  He's unhappy with the lack of clarity in his role but when pressed about whether he plans to opt out of his contract, he admitted he has not pitched well enough to opt out and plans to return next season on a 1 year deal which may prove to be a good deal for both parties as he is a decent bet to bounce back next season.