Jordan Hicks labored mightily for 5 innings and somehow left the game with the lead and a chance to record a Win. Alas, the bullpen failed to hold amid at least two questionable umpiring calls. Key Lines:
Thairo Estrada 2B- 2 for 4, 2B. BA= .230. Thairo has been scuffling. Regression to career averages would help the offense significantly.
Mike Yastrzemski RF- 1 for 3, HR(1), BB. BA= .182. Another scuffler. With 2 outs in the 5'th inning, the only Giants baserunner off Slade Cecconi RHP was a HBP to Jung Hoo Lee. Estrada singled and YtY homered onto the RF arcade to give the Giants a 2-1 lead and take Hicks off the hook for a Loss.
Jordan Hicks RHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 0 K, 2 HBP, Balk, GO/AO= 7/3. ERA- 1.61. The line is ugly and it's a near miracle he didn't give up more than the 1 run. 96 pitches in 5 innings. I think the secret sauce was getting a groundball when he had to, but hopefully Hicks and the coaches will figure out how to command the strike zone better.
Sean Hjelle RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, GO/AO= 5/1. ERA= 0.00. Bob Melvin is an avowed Sean Hjelle fan and he had to like what he saw out of Tall One today.
Umpires- there were two very questionable calls that may have been the difference the game:
6'th inning: Runners at first and second with no outs. Christian Walker hits a flyball to Jung Hoo Lee. The runners tag, the throw is cut off and the trailing runner is called safe at 2B. Available video was possibly not conclusive but it sure looked like the tag was applied to the runner's chest at least 6 inches before his foot hit the bag. Giants asked for replay but the call was not overturned. Was other video available to the replay umps? We'll never know for sure. The trailing runner scored so there was one questionable run.
9'th inning: Runners on first and third, no outs. Kevin Newman appears to strike out but the ump ruled foul tip keeping the AB alive. He doubles in a run on the next pitch and puts another runner at 3B who scored on a Sac Fly. Second questionable run.
Bob Melvin and Matt Williams were both ejected after Corbin Carroll struck out which should have been the third out of the inning.
Slade Cecconi RHP- 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K, ERA= 3.00. The Giants were expecting to face Merrill Kelly RHP who was a late scratch. They did not make Cecconi work very hard as he threw just 64 pitches in his 6 IP. How important is mental preparation for hitters to face a certain pitcher pitcher? Does a last minute scratch put them at a disadvantage? To be clear, Cecconi looked like he had good stuff that the Giants have a recent history of looking terrible against rookie pitchers.
The Loss drops the Giants 2.5 games behind the NL West leading Dodgers, 1.5 games behind the Padres and 1 game behind the D'Backs.
Keaton Winn RHP gets the ball for the first game of a 3-game series against the Mets with Forever Giant Jose Quintana LHP on the mound for the Mets.
nick avila looks like he may be punching his ticket back to sacramento at this point. may be time to give randy rodriguez a look.
ReplyDeleteWord on X is Mitch White is getting the call.
Deletewhite is not a bad idea either, would added another much needed veteran arm in the bullpen. they should look to acquire a veteran lefty to the pen at some point too. getting luke jackson back will also shore up the pen.
DeleteFWIW, Ahmed has been Mr Clutch this season and Soler has not risen to the occasion.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty clear why Melvin would go with Soler with that PH: he didn't have to answer the "What if?" question.
He would have looked foolish to have Ahmed fail with so much on the line.
Don't'cha wonder: what would Kapler have done?
Bet he would have pinch hit also — does that santify Melvin, or condemn him?