The Giants came up short in a pitching duel of aces that extended into extra innings.
This had to be one of the marquee matchups of the season with two all-stars and legitimate Cy Young contenders, Carlos Rodon LHP facing Corbin Burnes RHP.
The Giants scratched out 2 runs in the third inning to take the first lead. The BrewCrew answered with single runs in the 4'th and 6'th innings. The difference in the game was a swinging RBI bunt single in the 10'th inning off Camilo Doval RHP.
In the battle of aces, Rodon gave up 1 run in 5 IP while Burnes gave up 2 in 7.1 IP. The Brewcrew had 13 hits in the game while the Giants had just 4.
Joey Bart C had a double and walk in 2 PA's. His slash line over his last 7 games is .250/.368/.500.
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These four games plus the four in LA coming out of the All-Star Break could determine the success or failure of the Giants season. Now they have to win 4 of the remaining 7 for a split of the 8.
Alex Wood LHP tries to even it up tonight facing Brandon Woodruff RHP.
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Churn Watch:
The Giants used the roster spot created by sending Jose Alvarez LHP to the 60-day IL by claiming Aaron Fletcher LHP from the Pirates and optioning him to AAA Sacramento. Fletcher has a 9.15 ERA in 19.2 IP at the MLB level but a 1.45 AAA ERA inn 18.2 IP this season. Churn on!
I am suffering from churn fatigue. Immediately the Giants need someone to close out games. Doval with his 100 mph fastball and wicked slider is a great tool, but we are seeing repeatedly that he is not yet ready to be the closer. Go get a veteran relief pitcher who can close and move this group of relief pitchers into roles that they can be more successful in.
ReplyDeleteGiants rolled the dice in the 8th using 3 pinch hitters after Crawford singled.
ReplyDeletePH1: Flores struckout hitting for Bart, runner remains at 1st
Wade walked, runners on 1st & 2nd
PH2: Slater hit into FC hitting for Pederson, runners still on 1st & 2nd
Estrada hit by pitch, loading the bases
PH3: Ruf flies out hitting for Belt
OK, trying to push the go-ahead run across in the bottom the 8th makes a lot of sense: hold in the 9th for the WIN.
OTOH, the 3 batters pinch-hit for had all the Giants hits going into the inning, 1 each, plus a couple walks. The last 2 pinch hitters did get RH batters against the LH pitcher.
In the Magic of Last Year, it probably would have worked.
Looked like Ruf might have gotten pretty good wood on that last out but the wind blew it back to the edge of the warning track for a can-of-corn catch by the RF.
DeleteSort of been the story of the season since Friday the 13th of May when they were almost in 1st place. No cigar.
ReplyDeleteRuf's been good as a PH, better than his everyday numbers, but the Brewers have an abundance of riches in their pitchers, starters and finishers.
Need to win ONE to not be under .500 at the break.