Game Wrap 6/8/2021: Giants 9 Rangers 4

 Mike Tauchman LF's grand slam HR gave the Giants the lead in the 8'th inning.  Brandon Crawford added a 3-run shot in the 9'th for the runaway win.  Game Notes:

For a guy hitting just .187 since joining the team, Tauchman has had some big moments including The Catch, which completely turned around the Giants fortunes against the Dodgers.  The Rangers scored 3 runs in the 6'th inning to take a 4-2 lead and looked to be headed to a win in the first game of the two-game series.  It started with a single by Brandon Belt 1B, who had 3 hits in the game.  Walks to Brandon Crawford SS and Steven Duggar CF with a strikeout by Wilmer Flores 3B and a lineout by Donovan Solano 2B brought Tauchman to the plate with 2 outs.  Tauchman has been close to an automatic out but he came through here pulling it down the RF line and out of the park to give the Giants a sudden 6-4 lead.

Brandon Crawford had a huge night with 2 HR's, 2 walks and 4 RBI's.  His 41 RBI's leads all MLB SS's on the season while his 14 HR's is tied for 2'nd with Javier Baez behind Fernando Tatis Jr. who has 17.  His .938 OPS leads all qualified MLB SS's.  Tatis Jr is higher but does not have enough AB's to qualify due to IL time.

The Brandons hit back-to-back in the lineup and reached base 8 times in 10 PA's between them.

LaMonte Wade Jr. RF went 3 for 5 out of the leadoff spot in the lineup but did not figure in the scoring.  He's hitting .310 overall.  Buster Posey C added 2 hits to raise his BA to .336.

Alex Wood LHP scuffled again but was helped by 4 DP's in the first 5 innings.  His luck ran out in the 6'th.  He left the game with 1 out, a run in and runners at 2'nd and 3'rd.  Jarlin Garcia LHP came in and promptly issued a walk and a double to score his two inherited runners.  That gave the Rangers their 4-2 lead which held until Tauchman's slam.

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Alex Dickerson started the game as DH but left after 1 AB with back tightness.  That's yet another injury situation to monitor.

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The Win extended the Giants lead in the NL West to 2.5 games over the Padres and maintains a 3 game lead over the Dodgers.  They continue to have the best record in MLB.

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Zach Littell RHP is the Opener for today's game with Sam Long LHP and Conner Menez LHP ready to pitch multiple innings if needed.  Kyle Gibson RHP goes for the Rangers.

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Down on the Farm:

AAA:

Jason Krizan 3B- 4 for 5.  BA= .290.

Joey Bart C- 2 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .358.

Caleb Baragar LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Anthony Banda LHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 5.87.

John Brebbia RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.60.

2 HR's in 2 games for Joey Bart.  Baragar and Brebbia are on rehab assignments.  Is Banda a future option for bulk innings?

AA:

Heliot Ramos CF- 1 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .288.

Vince Fernandez LF- 1 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .209.

Sandro Fabian PH- 1 for 1, 2B.  BA= .266.

Trent Toplikar RHP- 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 3.38.

High A:

Simon Whiteman 3B- 2 for 3, HR(1), 2 BB, 2 SB(16).  BA= .300.

Sean Roby 1B- 0 for 1, 4 BB.  BA= .184.

Low A:

Brett Auerbach 2B- 3 for 4, HR(1).  BA- 279.

Armani Smith LF- 2 for 4.  BA= .333.

Alexander Canario RF- 3 for 4, HR(3), SB(6).  BA= .202.

Prelander Berroa RHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K's. ERA= 3.05.

Clay Helvey RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's, Save(4).  BA= 1.10.