A cathartic run explosion by the lineup and an encouraging pitching performance by Carson Whisenhunt carried the Giants to a runaway win in Citi Field. Key Lines:
Heliot Ramos LF- 2 for 4, BB, 2 R, RBI. BA= .268. Ramos is steady-as-she-goes...at least at the plate. He's been the Giants most consistent hitter this season which is not nothing.
Rafael Devers DH- 3 for 4, HR(20), BB, 2 R, 4 RBI. BA= .258. Devers busted out of his slump and how! The home run drove in 3 runs and was crushed well into the upper deck in RF. The singles were also hit hard with one smacking off the RF wall to the RF who caught Devers trying for a double.
Dominic Smith 1B- 1 for 5, R, 2 RBI. BA= .269. A single in 5 AB's doesn't look like much but it was at a the end of a great AB in a 2-out, bases-loaded situation. to drive in 2 insurance runs. Casey Schmitt followed with a 3-run blast to put the game on ice.
Casey Schmitt 2B- 2 for 5, HR(6), 2 R, 3 RBI. BA= .253. We mentioned that Casey was putting together better quality AB's and he delivered the coup-de-grace with the 3-run jack in the 9'th. He went 5 for 13 on the series. He has an opportunity over the last 2 months here to make himself the presumptive starting 2B going into next season.
Jung Hoo Lee CF- 4 for 4, 2B, BB, 2 R. BA= .258. Lee made an adjustment over the All-Star Break and started using the whole field instead of pulling everything. He's batting .315 since. This was his first 4-hit game and he reached base 5 times.
Carson Whisenhunt LHP- 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K's, 6/3 GO/AO. ERA= 4.35. Much, much better than his first MLB start. Excellent command of a mid-90's fastball with a sharp downward plane that was shaving the corners of the zone. Still some inconsistency in the changeup but the first inning solo HR by Lindor was the only major damage. So far I would say the fastball is better than advertised and the changeup a little less. Hopefully the changeup will come as he gets settled in and gains confidence. Good looking young pitcher!
Jose Butto' RHP- 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 3.47. It took just one pitch for Butto' to get Whiz off the hook in in the 6'th with a GIDP. He then struck out the side in the 7'th. Dave Fleming and Hunter Pence commented on the TV broadcast that the Giants scouted Butto' for a long time and really wanted him in the Rogers trade.
Giants win the series and move on to Pittsburgh to try to pay back the series sweep in Oracle Park. It's just their second series win since July 9. Now they just need to avoid the faceplant that happened after winning the Braves series on July 23. Justin Verlander RHP tries to keep his string of good starts going against TBD.
Devers has always been streaky.
ReplyDeleteWhisenhunt said after the game he hung a changeup badly, and recognized right away he hadn’t delivered it correctly. Also, Estes gave Whisenhunt props for completely changing up his sequencing when facing Lindor the second time. Some of that is no doubt due to Bailey, but the kid does seem to know what he’s trying to do out there on the mound. He might really be a keeper!
ReplyDeleteHow do you spell sweep?
ReplyDeleteVerlander — Webb — Ray
Showtime!
The Orioles have claimed right-hander Carson Ragsdale off waivers from the Giants, according to a team announcement. Ragsdale, meanwhile, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
ReplyDeleteWell, that reduces the Carson confusion to 2.
I like what I have seen from Butto as both a Met and his Giants appearances so far. And FA to be Rogers was a likely candidate to wear down for the Giants (maybe not with the Mets). I do like that trade. Good to see an offensive explosion and with no hits from the 3rd and 4th hitters! I.Good stuff for The WHiz to get a tough win on on the road nd hope he can build on it. The kid knows how to pitch, just needs consistent execution like ROUPP had found.
ReplyDeleteSteveVA