Spring Training Game Wrap 3/2/2025: Giants 9 Angels 5

The Giants jumped out to an 8-0 lead behind a strong 3 innings from Robbie Ray and a bases-clearing double by Jerar Encarnacion and held on for the spring win.  Key Lines:

Lamonte Wade Jr DH- 0 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .182.  Classic LMWJ PA to lead off the Giants half of the first inning.  He fell behind in the count 0-2 then drew a walk.  He's now drawn 6 walks in 17 PA with an OBP of .471.

Jung Hoo Lee CF- 2 for 3.  BA= .400.  Two sharp groundball singles through the right side lead to 2 runs scored.  Please stay healthy JHL!  Please!  

Matt Chapman 3B- 1 for 2, BB.  BA= .333.  Chapman has understandably played sparingly so far appearing in just 4 of 10 games with 12 PA's.  He probably only needs about 10 days to get ready for the season so he's playing just enough to stay sharp.

Luis Matos RF- 1 for 1, HR(1).  BA= .286.  In a statistical oddity, Matos becomes the 14'th Giants hitter to slug a home run this spring while none have hit their second yet.  If the season started tomorrow it seems like Matos would be the 4'th OF.

Jerar Encarnacion LF- 2 for 3, 2B.  BA= .444.  Wow!  Is Jerar this year's Randy Elliott Award winner?  With the bases loaded, he went the other way with pitch on the outer-lower quadrant of the strike zone and hit an absolute rocket directly over the head of the RF that clanged off the wall.  He later hit a 2-run infield single.  

Robbie Ray LHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Another strong start for Ray.  Last year's plan to have him boost the rotation after rehabbing from surgery got derailed, but he looks fully healthy and ready to roll this year.  Hopefully Tarik Skubal's private changeup lesson produces and ace level season.

The game understandably got ragged after the third inning.  Keaton Winn RHP and Lou Trivino RHP pitched scoreless frames but Tyler Rogers RHP, Camilo Doval RHP, Sean Hjelle RHP and Enny Romero LHP gave up runs.  I will say Hjelle was the victim of some bad BABIP luck as sinkerballers will at times.

The Giants have a free day tomorrow before making a bus trip to Peoria to play the Padres on Tuesday.  No starting pitcher named yet although it would be Jordan Hicks RHP turn.

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/1/2025: Dodgers 6 Giants 5

The Giants travel squad came up just short against the Dodgers home lineup consisting of several veteran regulars.  Key Lines:

Wade Meckler CF- 1 for 2.  BA= .308.  Meck is 4 for 13, all singles.   Probably a good sign for him that he's getting innings in CF.

Jung Hoo Lee CF- 2 for 3, 2B.  BA= .333.  I am getting excited to see what Lee can do over the course of healthy season.  I think some fans forget how much of an upgrade he can be over the Giants combined CF effort last season.

Jerar Encarnacion DH- 1 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .400.  Still a long way to go in spring training but Jerar was already a betting favorite for a roster spot coming in. He has only enhanced with his play so far.

Casey Schmitt 3B- 2 for 3, 2B.  BA= .222.  Is there room for both Schmitt and Brett Wisely on the team?  If not, Wisely seems to be winning the competition for utility infielder but there is a long way to go.

Christian Koss SS- 1 for 3, 2B.  BA= .333.  Koss got the start at SS.  He is quietly having a strong spring.  Saw a photo of his young daughter giving the Dodgers a thumbs down.

Carson Seymour RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 5/0 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.50.  Seymour did what he does best, had the Dodgers killing worms.

Robbie Ray LHP makes his second spring start tomorrow agains the Angels in Scottsdale.