Reigning Cy Young Award winner, Corbin Burnes RHP, dominated the Giants for 6.2 IP, but a parade of relievers pitching a bullpen game kept it close until Joc Pederson OF and Luis Gonzalez OF hit dramatic 2-run HR's in the 8'th and 9'th innings respectively to win the finale of one of the longest road trips I can recall.
It's not like he needs the help but Burnes appeared to benefit significantly from very generous width to the strike zone on both sides of the plate from the ump. It also did not appear the Giants pitchers were getting that same zone. Particularly damaging were strike calls on one-strike pitches clearly outside the zone which enabled Burnes to throw to the same location with two-strikes and the Giants hitters were then forced to swing to protect the plate.
Both the Giants rallies started with 2 outs.
I thought the Giants might have a chance when I saw Trevor Gott RHP was in the game for the Brewers. I remembered him leaving the Giants in a hailstorm of home run balls a couple of years ago.
Curt Casali C started the 8'th inning rally with a double down the LF Line. That brought Joc Pederson to the plate. At one point, he stepped out of the batters box and stared down a fan that was screaming something at him. The next pitch left the playing field. Joc turned and stared at the fan again before starting his home run trot, then had some words after crossing home plate. It was a dramatic, satisfying turnabout.
Jake McGee LHP pitched the 8'th inning and appeared to be hittable from the first batter. He threw a fastball in Willy Adames wheelhouse to send the game to the 9'th inning tied at 2-2.
Wilmer Flores DH drew a 2-out walk in the 9'th inning. Luis Gonzalez CF/RF/LF came up and worked the count. He got a pitch middle-in and yanked it down the RF line. It curved around the foul pole way back into the bowels of the stadium for his first MLB HR and the game-winner on top of that. It should also be noted that Gonzalez' 2-out single in the 7'th inning was what got Corbin Burnes out of the game and brought in Gott.
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It's really hard to adequately put into words what the Giants accomplished on this road trip. It was brutally long with an unschedule rainout and doubleheader in New York and this odd 1 gamer today. Several players hit the IL in the process. Despite all those challenges, they went 8-3 on the trip. They are now 12-5 overall topped only by the Mets at 13-5 and the Dodgers at 12-4. I am in awe of what this team has accomplished last year and continues to accomplish this year.
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The Giants now return home to face the A's for two games before finally getting a day off on Thursday. Carlos Rodon LHP faces Daulton Jefferies RHP tomorrow evening.
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