Game Wrap 7/30/2022: Giants 5 Cubs 4

A late rally by the Cubs fell just short as the Giants held on for a Win on Will Clark's number retirement day.  

Jakob Junis RHP- 4 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 2.78.  Junis seemed to be pitching out of the stretch al evening and threw 74 pitches in 4 IP but held the Cubs scoreless through 4 while the Giants built a 5-0 lead.

Austin Slater CF doubled into the gap in left-CF in the 3'rd inning and Darin Ruf LF who was on 1B after a walk was on the move and scored easily.  Yermin Mercedes DH followed with a sharp single to LF to drive in Slater.  

Mercedes has become quite the offensive force since joining the Giants, particularly against LHP's.  He's hitting .375 over his last 7 games and .315 over his last 15.

Luis Gonzalez RF/LF hit a 2-run HR with David Villar 3B on board.  Villar also had a fine defensive play laying out to grab a hot shot, getting up and gunning down the runner.

Joey Bart C followed Gonzalez' HR with a monster shot of his own.  Exit velocity was over 114 MPH, the Giants hardest hit ball of the season.  Gotta say, when Joey hits em, they leave the park quickly.

Thairo Estrada SS was hit on the head by pitch and appeared to temporarily lose consciousness.  He walked off the field but seemed to be a bit dazed and wobbly.  Tough to see how he avoids the concussion IL.  Villar and Jason Vosler might be able to cover for a few games until Crawford can get back.  Other than that, the Giants do not have anyone on the 40-man roster with any significant experience playing SS.  Donovan Walton is listed on the 40-man roster but he has not appeared in a game since July 17 and he was a near-disaster at the position when he tried to play it earlier this season. Archimedes Gamboa can probably handle the position defensively but would have to be added to the 40-man roster.  Shane Matheny, who just got promoted to AAA, started tonight's Sacramento River Cats game at SS although I believe he is mostly a 2B.  Tough situation for a team trying to make a case for adding help at the trade deadline.  

Tyler Rogers RHP seems to do better when he enters the game to start an earlier inning and goes more than one inning.  He has allowed just 1 run in 15 IP in those situations.  His line tonight:  2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, GO/AO= 2/0.  

Jarlin Garcia LHP who has also tended to do well in multi-inning situations did not do so well tonight as Yunior Marte RHP had to bail him out of the 7'th inning.  Marte then pitched a scoreless 8'th inning but ran into trouble in the 9'th putting 2 runners on.  Dominic Leone RHP came in and gave up a hit to load the bases.  Leone hung tough and pitched very well to get out of the inning with just 3 runs scored and the Save(3).  

It was great to get a win on Will Clark day but this is still quite obviously a deeply flawed team that 1 or 2 additions can turn into a serious contender.  That situation is likely now compounded by Estrada's injury.  I still think if they can get a serious prospect or two for Rodon they need to say yes.

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Speaking of Carlos Rodon LHP, he tries for the series win tomorrow afternoon facing Adrian Sampson RHP.