The Giants home opener turned into a wild, ragged game that seemed like it would never end but a win always makes the struggle worth it. Key Lines:
Lamonte Wade Jr 1B- 3 for 6, 2 2B, 3B, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI. BA= .174. It will take LMWJ a few more games to dig his BA out of the dumpster, but he kept the good vibes from this PH HR on Wednesday by reaching base 4 times with 3 XBH's. He now has a total of 4 hits on the season, all XBH. He was hitting the ball hard on the road trip but right at people, so this positive regression is not a surprise.
Willy Adames SS- 3 for 7, 2B, SB(1), R, 3 RBI. BA= .200. Adames had a rough game but came through when it mattered most driving in the tying and winning runs in the 11'th for the walk-off win. There was one stretch where he had something like 3 consecutive screamers hit at him that he got gloves on but couldn't field cleanly. He was initially charged with an error on one of them which was later changed to a hit. Those were tough, tough plays but I couldn't help but think peak Brandon Crawford woulda had them. Sorry Willy, we love you, but Brandon is a tough act to follow for Giants fans.
Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 4, HR(2), 2 BB, R, 2 RBI. BA= .280. Chapman's single in the second inning drove in LMWJ and his solo HR leading off the 6'th closed the gap to 8-7 after the Mariners put up 5 runs over innings 5 and 6.
Heliot Ramos LF- 3 for 5, BB, SB(2), R, RBI. BA= .323. Like last season, just when you think he's about to hit a wall, Ramos bounces back. His XBH streak to start the season ended at 6 games keeping him tied with Felipe Alou for that record but reaching base 4 times in 6 PA's might be more impressive and more of an indicator of long term success.
Patrick Bailey C- 3 for 5, 2 2B, R, RBI. BA= .222. Bailey had a nice game at the plate but had to work extra hard behind it nursing pitchers with wild hairs up their noses and working with a home plate ump that had a ridiculously tight strike zone. He also gave up a double steal although that was probably on Camilo Doval who is notoriously slow to the plate.
Justin Verlander RHP- 2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 6.14. Hmm.....Oracle Park might not be pitcher-friendly for Justin Verlander. As Kruk and Kuip love to say, "ownage is ownage!" The ump's tight strike zone and what appeared to be unusual carry in the ballpark might have contributed.
Randy Rodriguez RHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 0.00. For the second game in a row, Rodriguez came into a bases loaded situation, this time with 1 out and 2 runs in. Once again he got the fire put out and kept the game tied.
Lou Trivino RHP- 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K. ERA= 6.00. Trivino did not look like the guy from spring training as he was hit hard and gave up the 2-run lead the Giants gained in the 4'th inning.
Camilo Doval RHP- 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 0.00. Doval was definitely victimized by the BABIP gods as all 3 hits were infield(though some were scorched). There was the double steal which was probably his own fault and a fielding error by Fitzgerald trying to get the lead runner at the plate which scored 2 runs.
Erik Miller LHP, Tyler Rogers RHP and Ryan Walker RHP each pitched a scoreless inning to get the game to extra innings.
Spencer Bivens RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K. ERA= 7.36. Bivens did a great job dealing with 2 extra-innings starting with designated runners at 2B and earned the well-deserved Win.
*After the 10'th inning I decided this game needed less of my involvement in it which proved to be true as the winning runs scored while I was making a run to the store.
The Win improves the Giants record to 6-1.
Robbie Ray LHP tries to secure a series win tomorrow evening facing Bryce Miller RHP.
Resilient!
ReplyDeleteThe Eastern oriented press may turn a blind eye to the West, but in the National League, 4 of the top 5 in very early season results are LA, SD, SF, & AZ.
ReplyDeleteIn MLB, 3 of the Top 4 are NL West.
Which means nearly absolutely nothing in the Grand Scheme of Things...
ESPN usually does not put Giants games on their scoreboard unless you click on "see all games".
DeleteAlthough the Giants played sloppy baseball and did not cash in on early situations in the game, it was great to see them keep fighting back. Last year they would have lost that game. Lots of crooked numbers in the box score with Wade, Adames, Chapman and Bailey with multiple hit games. Relievers as a group had a great game. LA and SD both lost finally. Frustrating day at times, but fantastic finish!
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing. They would have lost this game last season.
DeleteThis has been a remarkable start to 2025!
DeleteAt this time last year, the Giants didn't have Adames, Ramos, Fitzgerald, a healthy Flores, Ray, and Snell, a reliable closer, and the depth in pitching they have now.
After 7 games they were 2-5, not 6-1 (BUT they had a much tougher schedule to start the season).
It was Game 15 before winning their 6th game (6-9).
They didn't win 5 in a row until late September and that was their longest win-streak of the season. It got them to .500 for the last time in 2024.
Their most over .500 was 61-58 August 10.
Giants are "favored" tonight — will SF get 6 games over .500?
You have the 3 true outcomes and then you have put the ball in play and see what happens. In a way, the Giants are working both concepts with home runs and the catcher laying down a bunt. Fun stuff !!
ReplyDeleteBivens may end up in Sacramento for Tristan Beck today as an emergency reliever should things go south today. Ray will likely have to empty the tank with the same for Birdsong.
ReplyDeleteYeah people really shouldn’t be putting much stock into spring training stats. It’s always been like this, where guys can do good in spring training and face plant in the regular season or face plant in spring training but have a really good regular season. So i thought it was a little silly of Bob Melvin to say that he wanted to reward guys with good springs. We get it, but they sent down some good arms and good players that should be on the major league ball club over some guys they wanted to reward for doing solid during meaningless spring training
ReplyDeleteHmmm....so who made it onto the roster who shouldn't have and who would you prefer in their place?
DeleteMaybe Wisely (LHB) instead of Koss, but the latter is a bonified backup SS, so no fault there.
DeleteSchmitt just showed he can even play 1B — he's the infield jackknife.
Matos was the 4th OFer making 2 each handedness, so no fault there.
Maybe be nice to have another LHP, but which pitcher do we NOT want? The Giants have a lot of good pitchers — maybe a couple could have gone either way but, like who?
Tough to criticize the players who made it when they win 6 out of 7, and, at this exact moment, have the 2nd best record in the major leagues.
Maybe wait until they lose 2 in a row!