Game Wrap 9/8/2022: Brewers 2 Giants 1; Brewers 4 Giants 2

No point in writing two separate posts about this disaster.  This is one MLB/MLBPA might want to have back as scheduling a 3-game series over two separate one day trips to Milwaukee with the 2-game half coming the day after finishing a 3-game series against the Dodgers in LA is bound to produce a couple of forgettable games like these.

We'll get this out of the way upfront:  The Giants offense did not show up.  They managed 7 hits over 18 innings.

 There were some notable performances on the pitching side.  Neither game was really a bullpen game as Jakob Junis and Sean Hjelle pitched bulk innings after following Openers.  Speaking of which, maybe it's just me, but I have never seen results from the use of Openers that makes me think it's anything more than a gimmick.

Jakob Junis RHP- 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K's, GO/AO= 8/1.  ERA= 3.98.  This was notable because Junis had a terrible month of August and the Giants have to decide whether to tender him a contract in his final year of arbitration eligibility.  This line is a lot closer to what the Giants would be looking for by retaining him for next season.

Sean Hjelle RHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K's, GO/AO= 6/0.  ERA= 5.73.  Hjelle is a unique pitcher due to his tremendous height(6' 11") with intriguing potential.  He's had an up and down season mostly at AAA PCL which is a notoriously tough league for pitchers.  His results in a couple of previous cups of coffee were also mixed.  He showed up today with fastball that was a full tick faster and threw about 10 at 96 MPH.  He also broke out a new slider/cutter that seemed especially effective against LH batters.  This is all critically important for next season because the Giants desperately need bulk-inning pitching depth and ideally you want to get it from 1.  an in-house prospect and 2.  a pitcher with options.  Hjelle fits that description.  

Luis Ortiz RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.  A quick reminder that Ortiz has not allowed an earned run at any level since June 23.  I loved him as a HS pitching prospect out of Sanger, CA. Turns out he grew up a Giants fan.  Maybe the Giants are the team he finally sticks with and makes his mark in MLB with?

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Churn Watch:

Sean Hjelle as added as the 29'th player on the doubleheader roster.  He'll presumably go back to Sacramento since he pitched bulk innings and won't be available for for the next 4 days anyway.  I would think the Giants want to see more of him before the end of the season, though, and he's a logical choice to take Alex Wood LHP's slot in the rotation.

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The Giants move on to Chicago for a weekend series against the Cubs with Carlos Rodon LHP facing former Giant Drew Smyly LHP in a Friday afternoon game......after the doubleheader in another city yesterday.