A classic Logan Webb pitching performance and some timely hitting powered the Giants to their third win in a row and clinched their second series win of the year.....on the road, no less. Key Lines:
Willy Adames SS- 1 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI. BA= .158. Adames is off to a slow start but he made his hit count driving in two runs to get the Giants on the board in the third inning.
Heliot Ramos LF- 1 for 4, HR(3), R, RBI. BA= .286. Ramos hit a laser beam into the Crawford Boxes in LF. He hit it so hard it barely got enough altitude to clear the wall. That extended the Giants lead to 3-0. It also was Heliot's 5'th consecutive game with an XBH to open the season. The last Giants player to do that was none other than Willie Mays in 1971. Felipe Alou holds the record with XBH's in 6 games to start the 1963 season. It's a tall order for Heliot to tie Alou's record tomorrow with Framber Valdez on the mound. Then again, Valdez is a LHP and Heliot feasts off them.
Christian Koss 2B- 0 for 3, BB R. BA= .000. Christian Koss played in his first MLB game after riding the bench for 4 games. He can consider it a successful debut as he drew a tough walk in the 3'rd inning and scored on Adames double. He also turned 2 double plays including an great relay after a feed from Matt Chapman at 3B. He also started a third GIDP to make Logan Webb's night easier. He also caught an huge pop up that almost hit the retractable roof of the stadium. He also reached first base on a bunt that was ruled an error but his speed, the placement of the bunt and the lefthandedness of pitcher all contributed to the bobble. All in all an eventful and successful first game for Christian Koss. Wishing him many more.
Logan Webb RHP- 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K's, 9/3 GO/AO. ERA= 3.00. A return to form for Webb who was never really in trouble. Much better command than Opening Day and 3 GIDP's helped.
Tyler Rogers RHP and Ryan Walker RHP to the final 6 outs without allowing a run with Walker recording his second Save.
The Win improved the Giants record to 4-1.
Landen Roupp RHP goes for the swweeeep tomorrow facing Astros ace, Framber Valdez LHP.
Who will get their first hit of the season first - LMWJ, Casey Schmitt or Christian Koss? Nice to see Koss get a start today and be an asset in the field. And Schmitt at 1B? That was something I did not see coming.
ReplyDeleteFirst week of Baseball is so much fun, too bad it doesn't mean anything.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the most ridiculous: The Braves being 0-6 or the American League Division leaders being the Rays, the White Sox, and the Angels?
We shouldn't be surprised that the Dodgers are undefeated in their quest for 162 wins, but the Padres haven't tasted defeat either.
And what about St Louis: they tried to make their team worse in the off season but Arenado wouldn't help and they lead the NL Central.
How about them Giants: winning 2 on-the-road series! What could be more impressive? Beating Framber Valdez LHP! It's a stretch for SF to play an all RH lineup with only 2 RH OFers.
There is a lot of noise early in the season, mostly due to small sample size. IMO, the Giants pitching means something. Their team defense means something. Heliot Ramos hot start means something. I think the Braves are in trouble and the Padres are probably better than we've given them credit for. Ditto Cardinals.
DeleteAgree with DOC..I think, as a team, the pitching, the D and just the way they play means something and could help them battle which is still likley to be an offensively challenged team (OF/DH/1B) even if FLORES is his old self...Also agree on RAMOS showing his strength.
DeleteGotta admit, i think little about the Dodgers but i absolutely HATE the Padres, their incessant mugging and histrionics and the way the media loves them despite never winning anything...That's the team I want the Giants to jump...Long season.
Oh, and i'm not so sure today is a great position for ROUPP to be in...Get away day..against a good team (and Alavarez) that hit for squat all six games but is due. Hope he can get it done.
Does BIRDSONG piggyback with ROUPP today like they are trying to do in SAC?..Be a waste to waste either away with no innings.
SteveVA
Hah..glad to see they got Birdsong in...ROUP faltered late but happy with both..
DeleteI agree with you Doc. It is meaningful. We went into spring with questions on the starters, relievers and sophomores. Ray is healthy and showing it. Whether Verlander and Hicks get tired we don’t know but we have 50% of a staff which is 100% better than last year at this time. Same for RPs where Doval seems back and Walker not skipping a beat. Sophomore starters are playing like you’d hope.
ReplyDeleteCould this be a mirage? Sure. But I don’t think so. Doesn’t meant we win the division or even make the playoffs But it is meaningful.
Plus, every day we do ok now is one more day closer to Harrison and Encarnacion coming back, and Eldridge learning his craft. That is also meaningful.
The season is long.
ReplyDeleteThe first 5 games mean exactly what they are: 3% of the season.
The Giants are deep in pitching, but no where else, and, even on the mound, there are a few essentials: losing them would derail the team.
The 2012 Giants who finished very strong (esp WS), lost 4 of their first 5 games, but were never headed after mid-August. That was a team that also turned a pair of all-but-lost playoff series into winners.
The miracle 2021 Giants lost 3 of their first 5 games, then won 2 out of 3 for 157 games, but still lost in the Division Series.
Yes, I am happy with what I've seen, and maybe not worried that LMWJ is 0 for 16 without even a walk, Adames is 3 for 19 with 7 Ks, and Ray looked good until he didn't, because it's only 5 games.
I am no pessimist.
I love how they are playing notwithstanding a team BA of .206 and an OPS of .651, because the pitching
and defense have been terrific.
It's a long season.