The bottom of the lineup came through with some badly needed run production in the late innings to turn Robbie Ray's Quality Start into a team win. Key Lines:
Jerar Encarnacion RF- 1 for 3, HR(2), R, RBI. BA= .167. Jerar showed why his power his so intriguing when his 5'th inning home run temporarily tied the game at 1. Sadly, later in the game he pulled up grabbing his right hammy after trying to beat out an infield grounder. Preliminary assessment from Bob Melvin is it doesn't look good. It definitely did not look good on TV.
Jung Hoo Lee CF- 1 for 4, 2B, R. BA= .258. Lee started the 9'th inning rally with a 1-out double to the RF wall. I am happy to report his helmet flew off out of the box and he sprinted around first base into second with hair flying. Thanks to BaseballJeff on Bluesky for pointing out that in 6 August game, Jung Hoo recorded an XBH in all 6 plus 4 singles to go 10 for 24.
Dominic Smith PH/1B- 1 for 1, 2B. BA= .271. After JHL's double, Smith PH for Christian Koss 2B against Pirates Closer Dennis Santana RHP. He also doubled to the wall on a 2-strike pitch driving in the go-ahead run. He also teamed up with Randy Rodriguez on really good defensive play for the final out of the game. More thanks to BlueskyJeff for pointing out Smith has an 11-game hit streak and was already batting .357/.394/.500 with 1 HR and 12 RBI in 28 AB's with RISP before today's hit and RBI. I have to say Dominic Smith is a far different player and much more fundamentally sound than I was led to believe by reports I read when he was with the Mets. He's a free agent after the season. Can/would the Giants re-sign him as a lefty bat off the bench for next season?
Patrick Bailey PH/C- 2 for 2, R, RBI. BA= .213. Bailey started the tying rally in the 8'th with a single and drove in the insurance run in in the 9'th. Bailey is 6 for 18 through 5 games in August and is looking much more comfortable at the plate.
Robbie Ray LHP- 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 K's. ERA= 2.85. It was a warm, humid day in Pittsburgh. Ray had some ups and downs but sweated his way through 104 pitches in 6 innings to earn a Quality Start. He left trailing 2-1 but gave his team a chance to win and the lineup eventually came through.
Jose Butto' RHP, Ryan Walker RHP and Randy Rodriguez shut it down over the last 3 innings with Randy recording his 3'rd Save.
I am sure the Giants flight home was a happy one(have we said that before?). They have a day off at home to think about how to avoid another face plant Friday night against the Nationals with TBD facing TBD. Perhaps Kai-Wei Teng RHP for the Giants?
I'm guessing Gage opens for Teng with Teng in the bulk role tomorrow. Is it back to Matos or do they add Gilbert to the 40-man and give him a look and most importantly, is protected from Rule 5.
ReplyDeleteDom would be a solid signing as the only excellent 1B glove (on current roster) and a valuable LH PH off the bench.
ReplyDeleteDominic Smith (.271/.338/.407/.745) has been more than the Giants could have hoped for since they signed him as a Free Agent. Across the board, he is better in his 39 games with SF since his 2 best years for the Mets (2019 & 2020).
ReplyDeleteHe has been released by the last 7 teams he's played for.
At 31-years old next year, what can be expected? He is a Free Agent at the end of 2025.
How would signing him impact the 1B heir apparent, 2023 First Round pick, Bryce Eldridge?
Given the Giants will face a 40-man roster squeeze this winter, they will probably not make a huge effort to sign him, although they could invite him to Spring Training without signing him (if he is still available), couldn't they?