Game Wrap 6/4/20201: Giants 8 Cubs 5

The Giants offense roared back from a 2-0 first inning deficit with a 6-spot in the second and added two more runs in the third inning the held on to take their second in a row from the NL Central leading Cubs.  Game Notes:

A cruise around the the Giants blogosphere leads me to believe I am not the only Giants fan who wondered if the Giants went with the wrong veteran pitcher when they DFA'd Nick Tropeano RHP to make room for Scott Kazmir LHP who came back from the Restricted List.  After all, Tropeano allowed just 1 ER in 6 IP while shuttling between SF and Sacramento while Kazmir had given up 3 runs in 5 IP. Those doubts were not assuaged by Kazmir's performance as he gave up a 2-run blast to Kris Bryant RF before recording an out.  He did settle down to retire 6 of the next 7 batters including 3 by K's.  Maybe FZ has a trick up his sleeve to keep Tropeano in the organization but this is a decision to monitor going forward. 

Brandon Crawford SS batted cleanup and got the offense going with a leadoff double in the second inning.

The Giants got HR's from LaMonte Wade Jr 1B(2), Alex Dickerson LF(5), Steven Duggar CF(4) and Jason Vosler PH(2).  All 4 HR's were low-trajectory rockets.

Conner Menez LHP had a 2.38 ERA last year in 11.1 IP.  He's now added 4 scoreless IP in 2 appearances this year and looks like he may be ready for a more permanent and prominent role.  He recorded 2 K's and 4 groundouts in his 2 inning stint last night.

Jake McGee LHP and Tyler Rogers RHP got the final 6 outs without a K with Rogers recording his 7'th Save.  All 3 of Rogers' outs were on groundballs.

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The Giants maintained their 1 game lead over the Padres and 2 games over the Dodgers in the NL West as well as the best record in MLB.

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Kevin Gausman RHP tries to make it 3 in a row at 4:15 PM this evening facing Kohl Stewart RHP.

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Down on the Farm:

AAA:

Joe McCarthy 1B- 1 for 3, HR(7), BB.  BA= .300.

Braden Bishop LF- 3 for 3, 2B.  BA= .314.

Tyler Beede RHP- 4 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 7.27.

Sam Long LHP- 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Tyler Beede continues to struggle in his comeback from Tommy John surgery.  Sam Long continues to dazzle from spring training through AA and now AAA.  He's stating his case to be the next callup to Oracle Park.

AA:

Sandro Fabian RF- 2 for 3, HR(3).  BA= .224.

Sean Hjelle RHP- 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 3.49.

Fabian is 4 for 9 in June so far.  Hjelle's ERA is 2.55 since his first start of the season.  More importantly, Hjelle has 36 K's with 8 BB's in 28.1 IP overall.

High A:

Simon Whiteman 2B- 4 for 6.  BA= .286.

Tyler Fitzgerald DH- 2 for 5, 2B, SB(3).  BA= .211.

Brandon Martorano C- 2 for 5, HR(1).  BA= .325.

Javeyon Williams CF- 2 for 4, 3 SB(4).  BA= .157.

Low A:

Luis Matos CF- 2 for 4, 2B, SB(5).  BA= .287.

Alexander Canario RF- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .179.

Ryan Murphy RHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 2.20.

Brooks Crawford RHP- 2.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.