The Giants scratched out three runs while Landen Roupp and the bullpen held down a tough Phillies lineup to take the all-important first game of the series. Key Lines:
Matt Chapman 3B- 3 for 4, 2B, 2 R. BA= .248. Chapman went 0 for 4 in his first game back from the IL but did not show any signs of residual hand issues tonight with 3 hits which helped him score 2 of the Giants 3 runs. It's definitely a longer, better lineup with Chapman in it.
Willy Adames SS- 1 for 3, 2B, HBP, R. BA= .227. It's a whole different lineup when Willy Adames is contributing and he's definitely contributing right now, including ways that he may not prefer. Adames led off the 8'th inning with a HBP on another heat-seeker that got away from Orion Kerkering RHP. That was obviously not a purpose pitch but he was trying to jam Adames up and in. After an oppo-field single by Chapman put runners at the corners, Wilmer Flores stepped up. As Kruk pointed out, 2B was open and with Schmitt, Lee and Matos coming up, Kerkering appeared to be pitching around Flores when the count went to 3-1. Then next pitch drilled Flores and looked to me like it was thrown right at him. Kerkering slammed the rosin back in disgust but you have to wonder how disgusted he really was. Whatever the case, the Giants made Kerkering pay as they plated the two winning runs out of it on a pair of fielder's choices.
Landen Roupp RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K's, 7/1 GO/AO. ERA= 3.39. Roupp keeps building his resume. He faced one of the better lineups in the league as well as a hot opposing SP and didn't flinch. He kept the Phillies batters off-balance all evening with a 3-pitch mix any of which he threw on any count. It's an inning short of a Quality Start but we'll say it was a near-Quality Start. How's that? The Giants have won 11 of his 18 starts on the season.
Bullpen- 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's. Doval recorded his 14'th Save. He walked the first batter he faced on 4 pitches which is almost obligatory for him. Then TJ Realmuto gave him an extended AB fouling off numerous pitches. At times it appeared Realmuto was toying with Doval with prolonging the AB more of a goal than, you know, getting on base. Casey Schmitt took care of that nonsense with a leaping catch of a soft liner at 2B. Bryson Stott then GIDP'd with Wilmer Flores making a nifty play at 1B, stepping on the bag for out #1 then throwing out the runner with feet to spare for the game-ender.
All-Star Robbie Ray LHP tries to clinch a series win tomorrow evening against Taijuan Walker RHP who comes in with a 3.64 ERA.
They showed a graphic during the game, I believe it was Team ERA for innings 7-9. As you might have guessed, the Giants are first. ERA was something like 2.52. What surprised me was the gap to #2. 2nd best ERA for late innings was around 3.21.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I toughed it out with Doval on the mound in the 9th, but it could sure help to make our stomachs less queasy if they put Randy Rodriguez into the closer's role after the break.
ReplyDeleteBailey has nearly played a half seasons worth of games and he’s hitting under .190 with a slugging percentage below .300 and an on base percentage hovering around .250. He’s hit .230 in his two previous seasons with mid to low .300 slugging percentages. How many more years does he have left as a starting catcher if he can’t hit? Regardless of the defense. He’s destined to be a backup catcher on a team with a hit first catcher or destined to be a journeyman catcher who bounces between bad teams
ReplyDeleteGotta admit, Bailey is pretty much an automatic out at this point.
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