Donovan Walton SS's grand slam HR in the fourth inning gave the Giants their second 4-0 lead in as many games. This time, Jacob Junis RHP and the bullpen kept the Marlins from coming back for a split of the 4-game series and 10-game road trip.
Walton now has 9 hits in 40 AB's as a Giant but 8 of them have gone for XBH's, 7 doubles and todays HR. Dave Fleming and Shawn Estes were calling him "Donnie Doubles." The grand slam today gave him 7 RBI's in 2 games.
So, who is this Donovan Walton? He was a 5'th round draft pick by the Mariners in 2016. His main position is 2B but he played multiple positions in the minors. His AA slash line in 2019 .300/.390/.427 and .304/.395/.519 in AAA in 2021 so the bat may be legit. The Giants must be pretty high on him since they traded a pretty decent prospect, Prelander Berroa RHP, for him.
Jakob Junis was solid again: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K's. ERA= 2.51. I liked the low cost signing in the offseason and wow! Has it ever paid off? Where would the Giants be without Jakob Junis?
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The Giants now have their two longest road trips in their rearview mirror. They get a much needed break tomorrow before opening a 9-game homestand against the Rockies with Carlos Rodon LHP starting game 1 against German Marquez RHP.
Very much like last year, the Giants win more when Casali starts.
ReplyDeleteIn 2021 they were 42-13 in Casali's starts (fairly closely he started every third game so there was no softer schedule: end of season when every game was a "must" to stay ahead of LA, he started games 144,147,149,153,156,161 - Giants record in September Casali starts was 6-3).
This year, Giants are 15-7 in Casali starts, a .681 winning percentage, best in the NL and 2nd to only the Yankees in baseball.
Kapler is well known to play percentages especially L/R matchups, but does he know the Giants are apparently better in Casali starts? At least they win more frequently.
Only twice have the Giants lost consecutive Casali starts (on the road against the Mets & a pair of 1-run games - road and home).
The Giants have to keep trying Bart, but they are simply more succesful when Casali starts: 15-7 v 15-15. (Of those starts they each were the DH once.)