The Giants looked like an exhausted team which had a rough evening on all levels in a sloppy loss at the end of an east coast road trip. Key Lines:
Blake Sabol PH/LF- 1 for 2, HR(8). Sabol came in as PH to face a RHP for Austin Slater LF in the 7'th inning. That move paid off with a 2-run HR to cut into the Mets 5-1 lead at the time.
Luis Matos RF/CF- 2 for 2, BB. BA= .241. Nice offensive game for Matos although he did not figure in the scoring. He made a rookie mistake trying to do too much when he tried to deke out a runner and ended up misplaying the ball.
Ross Stripling RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 6.51. Here's where it gets really weird. Kapler reportedly told a reporter before the game that Stripling was good for 60 pitches. He threw 24 in 2 IP with just one baserunner allowed and came out of the game for Alex Wood LHP who was apparently the bulk inning guy. Stripling worked 4 IP with 10 K's in his final rehab start so it's not clear why he was being used as a strict Opener. Seems like a few other people are wondering the same thing. Maybe he's not 100% physically? It sure seems like if the Giants are going to compete for the postseason they need to get effective starts, or at least bulk innings, out of Ross Stripling. Why not start that when he's going good?
Alex Wood LHP- 1.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K. ERA= 5.20. I have to admit the Giants have a good record in Opener/Bullpen games but this one backfired spectacularly as Wood just did not have any command loading the bases with one out on 2 walks and a HBP. He then walked in the Mets first run. He did have some bad luck on a groundball single/error by Brandon Crawford but then gave up a leadoff HR to Mark Canha(yes him) in the 4'th inning.
Tristan Beck RHP- 2.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. ERA= 3.20. Not a great line but decent considering the circumstances. Beck sure looks like a hoss on the mound. Is it time to give him some higher leverage innings?
The Giants finish the road trip a disappointing 2-4 after winning their 10'th road game in a row on day 1 in Toronto. On the other hand, I think this is their longest trip of the season in terms of miles travelled and it was against two very talented, if under-achieving teams so 2-4 is probably better than this trip looked at the beginning of the season. The DBacks, Dodgers and Marlins all lost too so the pertinent standings remain static despite the loss.
The Giants return home tonight and start a home series against the Mariners tomorrow evening with Logan Webb RHP facing Bryan Woo RHP.
i'm wondering if alex wood is still hurt. it may be time to shut him down until after the all-star break. they need to be stretching tristan beck so he can start in the bigs. At this point FZ may be forced to overpay for starting pitching at the deadline with the bullpen starting to leak oil and he has earned the right to do an overpay or two to get to the finish line.
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