Game Wrap 8/11/2019: Giants 9 Phillies 6

Bruce Bochy played this one like a postseason game and clearly out managed Gabe Kapler in the endgame.  Throw in a bit of luck and there you have it.  It's why he and the Giants have 3 rings and he's headed to the Hall of Fame.  Key Lines:

Mike Yastrzemski LF/RF- 2 for 5, 2B, HR(12).  BA= .266.  Belt led off the game with a walk.  YtY doubled him to 3B and Longo got them both in with a groundball single up the middle to give the Giants and Conner Menez and early lead that didn't last long.  YtY followed that up with a solo HR for the first run of a 3-spot in the 3'rd innings.

Evan Longoria 3B- 3 for 4.  BA= .249.  All singles but in key spots.  A healthy productive Evan Longoria would do wonders for the Giants postseason chances.

Scooter Gennett 2B- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(2).  BA= .251.  This is why Farhan wanted Gennett and why Joe Panik is gone.  What an upgrade for 2B!  The HR came off a LHP and was a splash hit to boot!

Kevin Pillar CF- 2 for 4, 3B.  BA= .251.  This was the key hit of the game and the most glaring example of Gabe Kapler's inferiority as a manager.  With Evan Longoria at 2B with 2 outs and a 3-1 count on Pillar and a struggling Brandon Crawford on deck, Kepler failed to put up 4 fingers or failed to instruct Nick Pivetta to not throw a strike or else Pivetta just completely ignored orders.  Pillar scalded a get-em-over pitch to the the depths of Triples Alley to drive in the go-ahead run.  The rest is history.

Will Smith LHP- 1 for 1.  BA= 1.000.  Here's the luck part.....well not completely.  After Pillar's triple, Kapler sent Brandon Crawford packing to 1B to face Will Smith who, correct me if I'm wrong here, was coming up for his first PA of the season because you don't pinch-hit for your Closer in the bottom of the 8'th inning with a 1-run lead.  Problem is Pivetta couldn't throw a strike and ran the count to 3-0.  He got one get-em-over pitch called a strike but Smith was ready for the next one and slapped it down the RF line for a 2-run single to break the game open.  That was fun and Smith clearly enjoyed himself immensely.  What a huge smile!

Conner Menez LHP- 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 7.11.  Menez looked terrific in a 1, 2, 3 first inning, striking out two.  The wheels came off in the second. and he didn't make it out of the inning.  Hopefully a learning experience but maybe he should apply the lessons in Sacramento for awhile.

Trevor Gott RHP- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.  ERA= 3.44.  Where would this team be without Trevor Gott?

Will Smith LHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, BS(3), W(4-0).  ERA= 2.42.  Smith was charged with a Blown Save when he gave up a SF to drive in an inherited runner from 3B.  He more than made up for that later and rightfully was also credited with a W.  Bringing Smith into the game in the 8'th with runners on base another example of Bochy going for the throat in a must-win game.

Gabe Kapler Manager(Phillies)- Did anyone else get a load of that dugout interview on ESPN during the game?  Oh man!  For those of you pining for a younger, more stats oriented manager, be very careful what you wish for!  I've read stories about Kapler that make him sound like not a good person, but sometimes just watching and hearing a guy talk is worth a thousand written words.  Dude sounded like a drill sergeant on crack and meth at the same time!  Wow!  That dude seems like he is wound way too tight!

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With the Win, the Giants gained a half game in the Wild Card race and trail the Cardinals by 3.5 games.  They trail the BrewCrew by 3, Mets by 2.5, Phillies by 1.5 and the D'Backs by 0.5.

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The Giants get a day off at home before starting a 2-game home series against the cross bay rivals the A's on Tuesday.  Madison Bumgarner gets the ball facing fellow lefty Brett Anderson.