Saturday, September 2, 2017

Game Wrap 9/2/2017: Giants 2 Cardinals 1

It looked like Jeff Samardzija would once again but a hard luck loser, but his effort did not go for naught as the Giants pushed across a tying run in the 9'th inning and won it on Nick Hundley's walk-off dinger in the 10'th.  Key Lines:

Hunter Pence PH/RF- 1 for 1.  BA= .258.  Pence did not start so was available to PH when Mike Matheny brought in a lefty to face Denard Span and Joe Panik to start the 9'th inning.  Pence singled up the middle and Panik sacrificed him to 2B to set up the tying run.

Buster Posey 1B- 1 for 3, BB.  BA= .317.  Don't tell me there is no such thing as lineup protection!  Matheny could have had his lefty reliever walk Buster Posey and get the L-L matchup against Brandon Crawford, except Crawford is red hot and Matheny decided to take his chances with Seung Hwan Oh pitching to Buster.  Think that would have happened if Crawford hadn't been so dang hot lately?  Nope!  Oh completely did his job but Buster is such a great hitter he just reached out flat footed and poked the ball over the 2B head for a Texas League single that drove in Pence from 2B.

Nick Hundley C- 1 for 4, HR(6).  BA= .260.  A lot of things have gone south for the Giants this year but backup catcher is not one of them.  Hope they can find a way to keep Nick for next year, but he'll likely get a starting gig somewhere this winter.

Jeff Samardzija RHP- 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K's.  ERA= 4.31.  Welp, that 6-man rotation thing did not last long as Chris Stratton was a late scratch, not because of injury but because he was needed in the bullpen.  Samardzija's start was moved up and he delivered another dominant start, but left the game trailing 1-0.  He didn't get the W, but at least he gave his team a chance to win and they did.

Steven Okert LHP- 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 6.55.  Wonder of wonders, Bochy brought in a lefty reliever to face a lefty and get one out..... and he did!

Sam Dyson RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 6.22.  Dyson needed to get back on his horse after getting thrown off in the previous game.  He stayed on this time to earn the W.

*********************************************************************************

Madison Bumgarner is apparently recovered from the flu and will start Sunday's game facing a red hot Luke Weaver.

10 comments:

  1. The main thing is the Giants won today. It just seemed like an odd time when rosters are expanded that Stratton had to be scratched from starting today's game because he was needed in the pen. I was looking forward to seeing him take his regular turn in the rotation. I can't believe they seem to be jerking Stratton around moving him in out of the rotation.

    LG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess they felt Overt and Law could be used for 1 inning each but didn't have anyone who could go 3-4 innings if a starter got blown out early? Now the beats are saying that Stratton might start Monday in Colorado. Ha! Maybe they don't want MadBum with the team in Colorado at all and he'll meet them in the next city? LOL!

      Delete
    2. K or K said Stratton warmed up Friday, that's why he didn't start Saturday.

      Delete
    3. On Friday, going into the top of the 9th with the score tied, Giants had already used Cueto, Okert, Law, Strickland, Osich, Crick, and Melancon with Dyson to pitch the 9th. That's 8 pitchers, including 7 relievers. Not a lot left had Dyson done his job.
      If they had gone to the 10th and beyond, they needed more arms, and, since it was tight, Suarez wouldn't at this point go in while tied. He did go in when Dyson melted down.
      If the game had gone to the 10th tied, then the Giants wanted someone to keep it close, and Stratton hadn't pitched since Sunday. He has been used in relief in the past, this was a sensical move, but stuff happens, and the best plans go awry. Sort of 2017's story, no?
      No plot, no sinister motives, no knock on Stratton, but it was really kudos: had Dyson done his job and the game remained tied, it would have been Stratton to preserve it.

      Delete
    4. Thanks Anon and Doc, lol! I thought Stratton got hurt.. Then I thought Bochy can't be pulling a Roger Craig, who was famous for moving young pitchers back and forth from the rotation to the bullpen!

      LG

      Delete
  2. All's well that ends well I guess, but what was the logic behind Sandoval, who was 0-25, hitting in the bottom of the ninth, from his weakest side at that, when you have one of the best pinch hitters in the league on the bench, and the guy who eventually walked it off behind him? And to top it off, he goes down looking!

    ReplyDelete
  3. DrB I.m a long time giant fan as well as yanks fan! 62 world series still my early start as an 8 year old!
    besides JimRayHart what about Jim Davenport Hal Lanier Tito Fuentes??
    HaHa
    glad to have found your site
    Go Giants

    ReplyDelete
  4. Regards "Dyson needed to get back on his horse after getting thrown off in the previous game."
    Yesterday, K or K said Dyson was "too strong" on Friday having not pitched since Wednesday, August 23rd. September 1st would have been the 9th day.
    Too strong, no sink.

    ReplyDelete