Game Wrap 6/11/2021: Giants 1 Nationals 0

Anthony DeSclafani RHP with help from at least three standout defensive plays shut down the Nationals for a full 9 innings to make Buster Posey C's solo HR in the 4'th inning all the offense he needed.  Game Notes:

DeSclafani(I refuse to call him Disco) gave up just one hard hit ball on an night he could not afford to give up any.  Well, Mike Tauchman LF to the rescue!  For the second time in two weeks, Tauchman went above and behind the LF wall to pull back a HR.  This one was hit by Juan Soto RF to the opposite field.  The catch required a perfectly timed and perfectly positioned leap.  I think he had just a hair more time to track this one but both catches were sensational. As someone commented on one of the other blogs, Tauchman may have an fWAR of 0.1(I'm actually surprised it's not a negative number), but between his Grand Slam HR and these two catches, that's 3 games the Giants arguably would not have won without him.  That does not count the dramatic change in momentum in the Dodgers series which may well have contributed to two more wins.

In addition to Tauchman's great catch, Lamonte Wade Jr RF added a diving catch and Donovan Solano 2B made a nice stop up the middle with a going-away, over-the-shoulder throw to take away another basehit.

More on DeSclafani:  He was unflappable, pounding the zone, mixing pitches, getting strikeouts and DP's when he needed them, economizing pitches to allow him to complete the game.  His final line was 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K's, GO/AO= 7/2, 103 Pitches.  Masterful.  He now leads the NL in shutouts and is tied for the MLB lead with Sean Manaea LHP with 2.

DeSclafani also put a scare in everybody when he was obviously in discomfort after a swing in the 8'th inning.  He obviously did not want to swing at another pitch and bunted a ball foul for strike 3.  After consulting with the trainers in the dugout he came out to pitch the bottom of the 8'th and 9'th and did not seem to be affected in any way.  The injury is reportedly pain in the left wrist and this is not the first time it has bothered him.  IDK where the pain is coming from, but he may want to consider moving his left hand up off the knob to make sure he does not fracture his hamate(BTW, could he still pitch with a fractured left hamate bone?).  

Nationals SP Max Scherzer RHP left the game with a 3-2 count on the second batter he faced with an apparent strain of his right leg or groin area.  The Nationals bullpen certainly pitched very well.  I remains to be seen if the added stress on their bullpen while the Giants were able to rest theirs and extra day will make a difference in tomorrow's doubleheader.

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The Win left the Giants leading the NL West by 2 games over the Dodgers pending the outcome of their game agains the Rangers(hint:  The Dodger are crushing the Rangers!).  The Padres lost so fall to 3.5 games behind in 3'rd place.  The Giants once again have the best record in MLB by percentage points over the Rays.

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The Giants pitchers for tomorrow's doubleheader(7 innings each game) are Kevin Gausman RHP and TBD.  The Nationals counter with Erick Fedde RHP and Joe Ross RHP.

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Churn Update:  Lots of action in the sluice box. 

Remember the Giants DFA'd Matt Wisler RHP  a couple of days ago?  Well, the Rays took the bait and sent a decent pitching prospect, Michael Plassmeyer LHP, for him.  The Giants send along some cash with Wisler presumably to help pay his $1.15 salary and to get a better prospect in return.  Plassmeyer is 24 yo and pitching at AA level this year. He's a control-oriented lefty whose K rate has ticked up to 10.01 this season.  Another nice flip for FZ. 

They weren't so lucky with Nick Tropeano RHP who was claimed off waivers by the Mets who will pick up what remains of his $1.1 M contract.

Scott Kazmir LHP cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA Sacramento.  He could declare himself a free agent rather than report or he could retire.

Caleb Baragar LHP came of the IL and Thairo Estrada IF was optioned to AAA Sacramento in the corresponding move.  

The Giants also signed Akeel Morris RHP to a minor league contract out of indy ball and assigned him to AA Richmond.  Morris is 28 yo, from the Virgin Islands and has pitched briefly in MLB for the Mets, Braves and Angels. He has showed solid K rates in the minors but also too many walks.

Mike Yastrzemski OF is reportedly coming off the DL tomorrow.  The Giants have an extra roster spot for 1 day due to the doubleheader.

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Down on the Farm:

AAA:

Jaylin Davis RF- 1 for 4, HR(2).  BA= .444.

Joe McCarthy 1B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .324.

Matt Frisbee RHP- 5 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 8.10.

John Brebbia RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.00.

Camilo Doval RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 5.68.

Matt Frisbee's first stumble of the season across two levels.  Second consecutive game with a HR for Jaylin Davis. 

AA:

Heliot Ramos CF- 1 for 4, HR(5), BB.  BA= .281.  

Sean Hjelle RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 6.75.

Second HR in as many days for Ramos.

High A:

Sean Roby 3B- 1 for 4, HR(4), BB.  BA= .200.

Seth Corry LHP- 4.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K.  ERA= 2.83.

Chris Wright LHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

RJ Dabovich RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K's. ERA= 1.42.

Low A:

Armani Smith RF- 1 for 4, HR(3), SB(2).  BA= .296.

Marco Luciano SS- 1 for 3, 3B, BB.  BA= .273.

Alexander Canario LF- 1 for 3, SF, SB(7).  BA= .217.

Casey Schmitt 3B- 2 for 4, HR(6).  BA= .183.

Wil Jensen RHP- 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 2.64.

Wilkelma Castillo RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 2.57.

Brooks Crawford RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Casey Schmitt is hitting .333 in June after hitting just .121 in May.