Game Wrap 8/12/2022: Giants 5 Pirates 3

 Mike Yastrzemski CF/RF and Luis Gonzalez RF/LF led the Giants offense while Carlos Rodon LHP went 6 strong innings and the bullpen hung on for the win.

YtY went 2 for 4, 2B, HR(12).  BA= .225.  He's hitting just .231 over his last 7 games but has 3 HR's and is slugging .654 in that span.  If he stays hot, he could get close to his perennial 20.  FZ may have a big decision this winter whether to extend him or tender him a contract in arbitration process or churn on.

Luis Gonzalez went 1 for 3, 2B, SF.  BA= .264.  YtY drove in 3 runs while Gonzalez drove in 2.  His double in the 8'th inning to drive in Evan Longoria PH/DH from 1B gave Camilo Doval RHP an insurance run for the 9'th inning.

Carlos Rodon's line- 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 7 K, 110 pitches.  ERA= 2.95.  Rodon says he likes his situation.  Does FZ try to sign him long term?  It will definitely take more than 3 years and $100 M.

Camilo Doval- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(16).  ERA= 2.87.  That running, sinking 99 MPH 2-seamer sure looks unhittable.  If batters make contact it's usually not pulled and on the ground.  It reduces his reliance on the slider and makes it more of a swing and miss pitch he can throw out of the zone than a hanging pitch opportunity.  

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Churn Watch:  Giants called up recently acquired Thomas Szupacki LHP and optioned Yunior back to AAA Sacramento.  Kap said the Giants saw something in Szupacki's disaster start against them early in the season that could help him.  When asked if Szup was tipping his pitches, Kap declined to elaborate.

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2012 Championship reunion tonight.  Very sad news that Timmy's wife Cristin died at age 38.  Reports are she was battling cancer and they got married just recently although they were long time partners.

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Former Giant Tyler Beede RHP is listed as tonight's SP for the Pirates facing Logan Webb RHP.

Down on the Farm: 8/11/2022

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats smothered the Salt Lake City Bees 9-3.

Isan Diaz 2B- 3 for 5, 2 HR(23).  BA= .282.

David Villar 1B- 1 for 5, HR(24).  BA= .277.

Steele Walker RF- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .276.

Heliot Ramos LF- 2 for 4, BB, SB(5).  BA= .216.

Bryce Johnson CF- 1 for 2, BB, SF.  BA= .284.

Sean Hjelle RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 2 K, GO/AO= 7/4.  ERA= 5.18.

Scott Alexander LHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Michael Stryfeller RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Ben Bowden LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.80. 

Remember for both hitters and pitchers this game was played in a launching pad in SLC.  3 recent acquisitions bolster the bullpen.

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AA:  Portland Sea Dogs defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels 6-5.

Tyler Fitzgerald SS- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .211.

Kyle Harrison LHP- 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 2.83.

Kyle Harrison continues to be the biggest and best story of the season for the Giants organization.

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A+:  Eugene Emeralds beat the Vancouver Canadians 4-2:

Carter Williams LF- 1 for 4, HR(4).  BA= .267.

Vaun Brown RF- 1 for 1, 3 BB, 2 BB(17).  BA= .341.

Jairo Pomares DH- 2 for 5, 2B, BB.  BA= .255.

Mason Black RHP- 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 3.86.

Evan Gates RHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.  ERA= 3.24.

After a rough July, Mason Black has had two pretty solid starts in August.

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A:  Stockton Ports outscored the San Jose Giants 10-9.

Grant McCray CF- 2 for 5, 2B, HR(18).  BA= .288.

Victor Bericoto 1B- 3 for 5.  BA= .259.

Alexander Suarez RF= 2 for 3, HR(10), BB. BA= .232.

Joe Kemlage RHP- 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB.  BA= 4.88.

Suarez is high on my list of Giants sleeper prospects.

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Complex Watch:

Patrick Hilson LF(ACL)- 2 for 4, SB(12).  BA= .294.

Liam Simon RHP(ACL)- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  5'th round draft pick makes his pro debut.

Will Wilson SS(ACL)- 2 for 3.  BA= .800.

Mikell Manzano RHP(ACL)- 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.50.  69 K in 48 IP.

Estanlin Cassiani CF(DSL)- 3 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .392.  Cassiani keeps hitting but has shown almost no power.

Down on the Farm: 8/10/2022

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats held off the Salt Lake City Bees 4-3.

Bryce Johnson CF- 1 for 4, 2B, BB, SB(25).  BA= .282.

David Villar 2B- 1 for 4, HR(23), BB, SB(1).  BA= .279.

Austin Dean RF- 2 for 4, HR(13).  BA= .267.

Zack Littell RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.  ERA= 4.91.

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AA:  Portland Sea Dogs outlasted the Richmond Flying Squirrels 1-0(10 innings).

Tristan Peters LF- 2 for 3, SB(1).  BA= .238.

Armani Smith RF- 2 for 4.  BA= .240.

Matt Frisbee RHP- 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 13 K.  ERA= 4.95.

Chris Wright LHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.12.

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A+:  Eugene Emeralds topped the Vancouver Canadians 10-3.

Vaun Brown CF- 1 for 3, 2 BB, 2 SB(15).  BA= .336.

Jairo Pomares LF- 3 for 5, HR(13).  BA= .251.

Patrick Bailey C- 1 for 3, 3B, BB.  BA= .210.

Luis Toribio 3B- 1 for 4, HR(18).  BA= .208.

Keaton Winn RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 3.16.

Jake Wong RHP- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 5.17.

Pomares has a .480 BA in 25 AB in August.

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A:  Stockton Ports buried the San Jose Giants 9-2.

Jared Dupere LF- 1 for 3, HR(7), BB,  BA= .325.

Victor Bericoto RF- 1 for 2, HR(10), 2 BB,  BA= .254.

Yoniel Ramirez RHP- 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.79.

Ramirez recently promoted from ACL.  

Game Wrap 8/10/2022: Padres 13 Giants 7

Two huge innings by the Padres offense overwhelmed the Giants in spite of a pretty good game from their own lineup.

Jakob Junis RHP started the game with 2 shutout innings but hit a wall in the third giving up 5 hits and 2 walks.  Two of the 6 runs the Padres scored came after he was replaced by Alex Young LHP but they were all charged to Junis.

Young pitched 2.1 shutout innings to temporarily keep the Giants in the game.

J. D. Davis 3B went 3 for 4, HR(7).  BA= .249.  Davis is slashing .333/385/.708 with 3 HR since joining the Giants and I'm all in on him being their starting 3B next year. He's even made some not half-bad defensive plays.

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The Giants get a day to lick their wounds before starting a weekend series against the Pirates with Carlos Rodon LHP facing TBD.  

Down on the Farm: 8/9/2022

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats crushed the Salt Lake City Bees 16-9.

Isan Diaz SS- 3 for 6, 2B, 3B.  BA= .276.

Jason Vosler 1B- 3 for 5, BB.  BA= .229.

Andrew Knapp C- 3 for 6.  BA= .237.

Randy Rodriguez RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Ben Bowden LHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 5.14.

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AA:  Portland Sea Dogs outlasted the Richmond Flying Squirrels 5-4(10 innings).

Diego Rincones DH- 3 for 4, 2B.   BA= .253.

Armani Smith RF/1B- 2 for 4, HR(2).  BA= .234.

Wil Jensen RHP- 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 3.92.

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A+:  Eugene Emeralds topped the Vancouver Canadians 4-2.

Carter Williams DH- 3 for 4.  BA= .273.

Landon Roupp RHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K's.  ERA= 1.65.

John Gavin LHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Wiliams is back in Eugene after running roughshod over the Cal League.  Does Landon Roupp's success take some of the sting out of Bednar's struggles?

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A:  San Jose Giants pounded the Stockton Ports 12-2.

Grant McCray CF- 1 for 4, HR(17), HBP.  BA= .286.

Aeverson Arteaga SS- 3 for 5, 2B, HR(11).  BA= .265.

Jared Dupere LF- 2 for 3, 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .324.

Adrian Sugastey C- 4 for 4, 2B, HR(5), BB.  BA= .250.

Trevor McDonald RHP- 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 2.52.

Ben Madison RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.   ERA= 1.72.

Grant McCray is closing in on a 20/30 season.

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Complex Watch:

Will Wilson DH- 2 for 2.  BA= 1.000.  Wilson back from wrist surgery.  Maybe he can get some extra PA's in the Arizona Fall League?

Diego Velasquez SS- 3 for 4.  BA= .276.

Zach Morgan C- 2 for 3, 2B.  BA= .300.

Javier Francisco 1B- 1 for 3, HR(1).  BA= .145.

Miguel Mora RHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.36.

Brayan Palencia RHP- 4 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.11.

Game Wrap 8/9/2022: Padres 7 Giants 4

Most of the problems plaguing the Giants all season were on display in another disheartening loss:  Failure to add onto an early lead, early exit by the SP, late comeback that fell just short, BULLPEN MELTDOWN.  Or to put it another way, Manny Machado 3B's walk-off 3-run HR in the 9'th inning ruined a 3-run top of the 9'th against Josh Hader LHP which tied it.

Lamonte Wade Jr DH hit a solo HR in the first inning.  Wade Jr is a guy the Giants need to find out about over the rest of the season.  His season was largely ruined by two prolonged injuries.  Is he a guy when he's healthy?  Can he stay healthy?  

The Giants did not score another run until the top of the 9'th inning when they scored 3 runs, mostly because Hader could not find the strike zone.  Evan Longoria came within an inch of giving the Giants the lead but a diving catch by Jurickson Profar LF converted a potential bases loaded hit into a SF.  BTW, I just watched that catch again on video.  I think the ball came out and hit the ground for an instant.

Kap is taking a lot of heat for sending Tyler Rogers RHP out there in the bottom of the 9'th, but he could not use Doval for a third night in a row unless it was a Save situation.  Beyond that, he did not have any other good choices.

Alex Cobb RHP sailed through 5 IP allowing just 1 run before giving up 3 straight hits to open the inning which brought the bullpen into the game which has spelled disaster for most of the season.

Joey Bart C was not available for the game due to a sore ankle.  X-rays reportedly negative.

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Jakob Junis RHP tries for a series win this afternoon facing Sean Manaea LHP.

Down on the Farm: 8/8/2022

 Complex Watch:

Patrick Hilson RF- 4 for 5, HR(7).  BA= .290.  Hilson was an extremely raw but toolsy draft pick a few years ago.  He's finally finding some traction.  He is the type of prospect that Rule 5 Draft and Minor League Free Agency rules don't help and if minor league contraction was in place a couple of years ago he might not even be in affiliated baseball.

Marco Luciano DH- 1 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .375.

Wade Meckler CF, Tom O'Tremba LF and Thomas Gavello 2B, Andrew Kachel 2B:  2022 draftees who made their pro debuts tonight in the ACL. Gavello had the best results with a 2B, HR in 3 AB.  

Carter Howell CF and Matt Higgins LF were undrafted FA's who made also made their pro debuts in the ACL with Higgins getting 2 hits with a 3B.