Game Wrap 6/12/2021: Nationals 2 Giants 0; Giants 2 Nationals 1(8 innings)

 The Giants broke a string of 19 consecutive scoreless innings with a 2-run rally aided by extra-inning rules then held on in the bottom of the 8'th inning aided by a bone-headed baserunning play to gain a split in the doubleheader.  Game Notes:

Not much to say about Game 1 except Kevin Gausman RHP was not quite at his best, which is still pretty good, but the offense never threatened against SP Erick Fedde RHP and 2 relievers.  You expect a better showing from the offense when the opposing SP is Erick Fedde.  

Conner Menez LHP led off a bullpen game for the Giants in game 2 facing Jefry Rodriguez RHP who was called up from the minors to start the game for the Nationals.  The teams matched zeros for 7 innings.  

With Curt Casali C the designated runner at 2B, LaMonte Wade Jr led off the 8'th inning with a long, hard single to R-CF that almost carried to Juan Soto RF's glove.  Casali read it as a hit all the way and scored easily to give the Giants their first lead between the two games.  Wade Jr was safe at 3'rd and a fielder choice to put runners at the corners.  Brandon Belt walked to load the bases and Wilmer Flores 3B tomahawked a soft liner to LF to drive in Wade Jr.  With the bases loaded and still no outs, the Giants failed to get another run home and took a 2-0 lead to the bottom of the inning.

Tyler Rogers RHP and Jake McGee LHP had pitched scoreless ball over the last two regulation innings so Caleb Baragar LHP took the mound to Save the 2-run lead.  He promptly gave up a run-scoring double to Starlin Castro 3B that was darn near a HR.  He the hit Victor Robles CF with a pitch to put runners at first and second with no outs.  Josh Bell PH then hit a long drive to CF that was caught advancing Castro to 3'rd with just 1 out, except Robles inexplicably tried to take 2B on the play, missed the bag trying to evade the tag and was tagged out between 2'nd and 3'rd with Castro glued to 3B.  Trea Turner SS then popped out to end the game.  Whew! 

The Giants are now 2-1 in a series in which they have scored just 3 runs in 23 innings.  That's how good the pitching has been!   

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The doubleheader split gave put the Giants 1.5 games ahead of the Dodgers for first place in the NL West pending the outcome of the Dodgers game against the Rangers who have an early 4-0 lead.  The Padres lost again to the Mets and are 4 games back.  The Giants trail the Rays by 0.5 games for the best record in MLB.  

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Johnny Cueto RHP goes for the Series win and a winning road trip tomorrow while the Giants offense will try to find some life against Joe Ross RHP.  The 

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Churn Update:  As expected, Mike Yastrzemski OF came off the IL to fill the 27'th roster spot for the doubleheader.  Curt Casali C also came off the IL and Chadwick Tromp C was optioned back to AAA Sacramento.  There will be another send-out tomorrow as the roster goes back to 26.

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Down on the Farm:

AAA:

Joey Bart C- 1 for 4, HR(6).  BA= .333.

Arismendy Alcantara SS- 1 for 4, HR(3).  BA= .343.

Aaron Sanchez RHP- 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 6.75.

Bart hit his 3'rd HR in 5 games.

AA:

Heliot Ramos CF- 1 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .280.

Sandro Fabian RF- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .289.

Frankie Tostado 1B- 2 for 3, HR(2), BB.  BA= .264.

Jose Marte RHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 5.68.

Heliot Ramos has had at least 1 hit and at least 1 BB in 12 of his 33 games this season.  His overall OBP is .366.

Low A:

Brett Auerbach 2B- 2 for 4, 3B, HR(2), SF.  BA= .289.

Armani Smith RF- 4 for 5, 2B, HR(4).  BA= .339.

Ricardo Genoves C- 1 for 5, HR(5).  BA= .314.

Alexander Canario CF- 3 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .236.

Casey Schmitt DH- 4 for 5, 2 HR(8).  BA= .214.

Kyle Harrison LHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 10 K.  ERA= 3.04.

Austin Reich RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 2.16.

Ivan Armstrong RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K's Save(2).  ERA= 1.29.

Nice game for padding the stat line as the SJ Giants score 12 runs.  Brett Auerbach was an UDFA from 2020, probably playing at too low a level for his age.  Armani Smith was drafted in 2019 in round 7 out of UCSB and ideally should also probably be playing in high A ball.  Casey Schmitt is red hot, hitting .409 in June after hitting just .121 in May.  He has a 6 game hit streak with multiple hits and a total of 4 HR's in his last 3. Austin Reich was an UDFA in 2019.  Ivan Armstrong is a big-body who started out in the DSL.  He's just 20 yo.