Game Wrap 5/8/2021: Giants 7 Padres 1

The Giants dominated every phase of the game and clinched a series win wire-to-wire.  Game Notes:

Kevin Gausman RHP was working on 3 extra days of rest courtesy of a mild reaction to the COVID vaccine.  He worked with a FB that sat 96-98 MPH and a beautiful splittter that not only fell off the table but faded away from LH hitters.  He was touched for a run in the 5'th inning aided by a throwing error by Curt Casali C, but beyond that was never in serious trouble and showed good command of sensational stuff.  He seemed to get stronger as the game went along and struck out the side in his 6'th and final frame hitting 98 MPH with several FB's.  Stuff, command, stamina, all signs of a true ace. 

So there might be something to this "Moustache May" thing.  Austin Slater PH/LF, the ringleader, homered for the second game in a row.  Today's blast was the 3'rd longest by a Giant since the inception of statcast.  Slater did not start against Joe Musgrove RHP, but entered the game in the 6'th inning as a PH for starting LF Mike Tauchman to face sidearming Tim Hill LHP.  Slater delivered a run-scoring single.  He later delivered the blast to CF off Nabil Crismatt RHP.  

Brandon Crawford SS started the Giants scoring with a 3-run HR over the wall in R-CF which is a pretty good poke itself.  Crawford is currently on fire hitting .333 over his last 15 games and .357 over his last 7.  He's homered in 2 of his last 3 games.  By UZR/150, he's also playing his best D since 2016.

Brandon Belt 1B also homered.  Musgrove was throwing about 80% curveballs and threw a pretty good looking one down and in, but Belt did the classic LH batter golf swing and drove it over the RF wall.  Belt is slashing .292/.393/.667 over his last 7 games despite going 0 for 7 in his previous 2.

Steven Duggar CF is also a hot hitter.  He went 2 for 4 with 2 oppo-field hits today and his hitting .280 over his last 15 games .318 over his last 7.  

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The Win stretched the Giants lead in the NL West to 2.5 games over the Padres and Dodgers who are pounding the Angels as I write this.  

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Johnny Cueto RHP returns from the IL tomorrow to try for a series sweep against TBD.

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OK, I called this one a few days ago.  Aaron Sanchez RHP went to the IL with "right biceps tightness" to make room on the Active Roster for Gausman.