Game Wrap 6/6/2021: Cubs 4 Giants 3

 The Giants offense got off to a hot start but fizzled in the middle and late innings largely due to hard-hit balls that found gloves.  Johnny Cueto RHP couldn't hold the early lead and the Cubs were able to run out the clock, so to speak.  Game Note:

Cueto didn't pitch badly except to Patrick Wisdom 3B.  The kid from Murrieta, CA who played college ball at St Mary's scuffled to get established in the majors but has always had power is in one of those zones where you just don't want to give him anything resembling a pitch to hit.  3 of the 4 runs off Cueto came on 2 Wisdom HR's.  All 3 of his HR's in the series went to dead CF.  

Conner Menez LHP is also in a zone.  He entered the game in the 5'th inning with the bases loaded and 1 out.  He struck out Jason Heyward RF and the aforementioned Wisdom to end the threat then retired 4 more batters.  He's now pitched 6 innings in 3 appearances without allowing a run.  He would seem to be a potential option for a spot start or two.

Lamonte Wade Jr 1B is hitting just .227 over his last 7 games but 3 of his 5 hits have been HR's.  He hit Kyle Hendricks' first pitch of the game for an oppo field HR, his 3'rd HR in 6 games.  He added 2 walks later in the game.  He's also played a very rangy brand of 1B while filling in for Brandon Belt 1B who is reportedly ready to return to action this week in Texas.

Buster Posey C continued to stroke the ball with 3 hits in 4 AB's.  He's 7 for 14 over his last 3 games and hitting .333 overall.  Speaking of....Busters's double to the apex of Triples Alley would have been a HR in 28 of 30 MLB parks.  

....and speaking of.....Mauricio Dubon 3B had ball caught by Kris Bryant at the top of the LF wall.  It didn't quite have enough distance for a HR but Bryant's height appeared to enable him to turn it into a relatively easy catch.  .....and on top of that, the Giants had 5 line-drive outs in the game so the BABIP gods were not friendly in this one.

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The Padres and Dodgers both lost so the Giants maintain their 2 game lead in the NL West and the best record in MLB by percentage points over the Rays in the AL.

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The Giants have a travel day tomorrow before starting a two game series against the Rangers in Texas on Tuesday with Alex Wood LHP facing Jordan Lyles RHP.

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The not-unexpected bad news on Evan Longoria 3B is a dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint(ouch!).  He was placed on the IL and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.  Longoria was having a excellent season up to now and his presence in the lineup and on defense at 3B will be difficult to replace.

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Down on the Farm:

AAA:

Bryce Johnson CF- 2 for 6, SB(9).   BA= .321.

Arismendy Alcantara SS- 4 for 6, 3B.  BA= .500.

Jason Krizan 3B- 3 for 6.  BA= .268.

Joe McCarthy LF- 2 for 5, 2 2B, BB.  BA= .315.

Fabian Pena C- 2 for 5, 2B, HR(2).  BA= .217.

Peter Maris 2B- 2 for 4, HR(2), BB.  BA= .250.

Matt Frisbee RHP- 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 5.40.

The PCL is a hellacious place to pitch and Matt Frisbee's K/BB remains strong.

AA:

Vince Fernandez RF- 2 for 4, HR(4).  BA= .206.

Gerson Garabito RHP- 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 4.56.

Norwith Gudino RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's, Save(4).  ERA= 1.56.

High A:

Logan Wyatt 1B- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .213.

Low A:

Luis Matos CF- 2 for 5, 2B, SB(7).  BA= .291.

Ricardo Genoves C- 2 for 5.  BA= .337.

Marco Luciano DH- 1 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .274.

Alexander Canario RF- 1 for 2, 2 BB, SB(5).  BA= .178.

Abdiel Layer SS- 3 for 5, 2 2B, HR(6).  BA= .269.

Kyle Harrison LHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 2.78.