The Giants brought their hitting shoes and picked up Logan Webb and the defense in what turned out to be a runaway Giants win with some help from Secret Agent Disco. Key Lines:
Heliot Ramos LF- 1 for 5, HR(17), R, 2 RBI. BA= .266. The Giants hit 5 home runs on the night. Ramos shot capped a 5-spot in the 6'th inning that put the game away. It was just his 3'rd HR of the second half.
Dominic Smith 1B- 1 for 4, HR(5), R, 2 RBI. BA= .291. Smith's 2-run bomb tied the score in the third inning. Reminder Smith was signed after he was released by his minor league club. He is a free agent at the end of the season. It will be interesting to see where he signs and for how much. Quite a turnaround of fortunes.
Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 4, HR(21), 2 R, RBI. BA= .241. Chapman's solo HR came in the 7'th off Secret Agent Disco, one of 3 Anthony DeSclafani RHP gave up in the game.
Jung Hoo Lee CF- 3 for 4, HR(8), 2 R, 2 RBI. BA= .271. Lee made up for his terrible AB in yesterday's game by driving in the Giants first two runs in the second inning to answer the 3 run, error-aided rally by the D'Backs in the top of the inning. Lee had an interesting AB which contributed to the 5-run rally in the 6'th inning. With runners on first and second with no outs, Lee bunted for a base-hit. I missed seeing it on TV but I guess the primary goal was to advance the runners and if he reached base it was a bonus? That's one way to make sure you don't strike out looking(sorry I couldn't help it). Christian Koss made it pay off with a double followed by Ramos' HR.
Christian Koss 2B- 2 for 4, 2B, R, 2 RBI. BA= .258. Koss made an error in the second inning which led to 3 unearned runs on Jake McCarthy's bases loaded triple but Koss' double in the 6'th drove in the go-ahead runs. He then scored on Ramos' HR.
Patrick Bailey C- 1 for 3, HR(4), SF, R, 2 RBI. BA= .217. Bailey is batting .333 over his last 7 games, .250 over his last 15 and .237 over his last 30.
Logan Webb RHP- 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K's, 7/2 GO/AO. ERA= 3.12. Webb threw 110 pitches through 6 innings but came away with a Quality Start and the W(14-9).
The Mets lost to the Phillies 1-0( ouch!) and the Reds lost so the Giants are the first runner-up in the Wild-Card standings trailing the Mets by 3 games.
Robbie Ray LHP tries to keep the winning going tomorrow evening facing Zac Gallen RHP who comes in with a 4.77 ERA.
My friend, I think prompted by our discussion about who the Giants Closer of the Future might be, texted a question asking who I think is the Giants best Closer of all time. Off the top of my head I replied for one season, Brian Wilson, in 2010 because not only did he have a great regular season he carried it through the postseason in the Giants first WS championship year in the SF era. I also mentioned Robb Nen and Rod Beck. Greg Minton saves a lot of games in the 1980's and Gary Lavelle and Randy Moffitt were co-closers in the 1970's. The first Giants Closer I remember was Frank Linzy, the bespectacled one, in the 1960's. That was before Closer's were a thing. There were a lot more complete games then so fewer Save Opportunities and Closers were expected to go more than 1 inning to close out games.
What a great list! Thanks, Doc. It stirs so many great memories. My favorites are: Nen, Beck, Minton, Casilla and Moffitt.
ReplyDeleteI only watched the 6th inning last night and what an inning to drop into. I won't recap the many key hits as you have already written about them. Not sure how to describe the unbridled Drew Gilbert celebration antics- kids don't try that at home. Gilbert has certainly added a layer of enthusiasm to this team. Keep throwing him out there. I also like how Melvin pinch hit for him with Matos and that worked as part of that 6th inning.
ReplyDeleteWith no games Down on the Farm yesterday, you might not be doing a segment on the Giants' minor leagues.
ReplyDeleteOf interest (today), San Jose and Eugene open the post season facing, respectively, Fresno (away) and Everett (home).
Think it's pretty clearly Nen. Even had the Nenth inning show at the park back when only Rivera and Hoffman were getting the closer entrance treatment. Beck had the stache and his early seasons were great, but he dipped pretty quick.
ReplyDeleteMy only problem with Nen was I hated the toe tap. Made me anxious as heck to watch it.
DeleteMy personal favorite is Shooter...but Nen has my nod for best ever. Guy destroyed his arm throwing endless sliders in '02 trying to push the Giants all the way. Never pitched again. Forever Giant all the way. The man would get some serious love if he showed up at the yard every so often.
DeleteNo Armando Benitez??? ;)
ReplyDeleteCan we give a nod to Stu Miller? Winning pitcher in 1961 All Star game when the Candlestick wind caused him to a balk. That year, 14-5, 2.66 ERA, 17 saves.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great list of closers. I tried to look at save percentage but the stat is not easy to find. Apparently Nen had half of an arm when he was asked to close out the world series in 2002. My friends who are Angels fans are fond of that year. (Yes, I think JT Snow, Darren Baker, and others were featured)
ReplyDeleteit looks like Save Opportunities did not become a stat until the 2000's. Yes, Nen shredded his shoulder near the end of 2002 and never pitched again.
DeleteYour list made look up Ron Herbel, I thought he was only a reliever, but also started a fair amount of games. His numbers indicate an average pitcher for that era. What I remember is that my brother and I blew up his 1967 baseball card with a firecracker after he failed to hold a lead. Somehow his smile on the card remained intact. Not a top reliever. Perhaps a list of middle relievers would make an interesting list. When did they start tracking holds?
ReplyDeleteGreat name from my childhood days listening to Giants games on the radio.
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