Phun in the Philly Sun

May 31, 2022 | 2022 Season, Latest Post

by
Greek Giant

Wow. What a game!

Logan Webb’s Excellent Adventures

I want to first discuss the brave decision by Gabe Kapler to bring Logan Webb out to start the ninth inning after Evan Longoria gave the Giants the lead in the top of the inning with a loooooong home run. At that point Webb was cruising, allowing only two solo homers and basically mowing down the Phillies otherwise. He had thrown 96 pitches up to that point, albeit on a hot Memoral Day, and was looking very very strong.

After the bottom of the eighth it appears that the Giant Manager had made his decision to pull the Giant ace. Cameras showed him congratulating Webb on a superb outing. But Webb never put on his jacket and as they say, he was able to change Kapler’s mind to go back out for the ninth in search of the first complete game by a Giant this year. Maybe Kapler was congratulating him on winning the Giants poker game the previous night?

At any rate, I loved the move, even though, it was a bit sentimental and it did not work, since Kyle Schwarber smacked a low slider on the outside half of the plate over the wall in center field just out of the reach of running, leaping Fairchild to the game leading off the bottom of the ninth. That Schwarber sure can swat.

It’s strange to say that Webb pitched beautifully when he allowed a career-high three home runs but he really did look fantastic.  He had a three-hitter with ten strikeouts entering the ninth.

“I wanted it and I was pretty comfortable out there. I felt like it was my game.”

–Logan Webb

The balls were flying out of the Phillies Park on this sunny and warm Memorial Day. It was that kind of game: feast or famine for the sluggers.

C’est la vie.

The Giants would eventually bounce back after the let down. Dominic Leone was immediately summoned to pitch and recorded a shutout, with a lone single by Castellanos being the only blemish on his outing.

Curt Casali!

First, here is the homer:

Curt Casali saved the day for the visiting Giants in dramatic style. His booming, majestic shot deep into the left field bleachers on a curveball was a thing of beauty and put the Giants ahead to stay 5-3. The Phillies would score in their half of the tenth but that was all she wrote in a very dramatic, see-saw game that saw the Giants knock only six hits, though three of them were homers (Casali, Longoria and Wilmer Flores). The Flores homer came with two on in the top of the sixth and the Giants trailing 2-0.

Evan Goes Deep, Again

Let’s talk about Evan Longoria. His laserblast to left center on a 95 mph belly-high fastball from Cory Knebel in the top of the ninth inning was a sensational piece of hitting. It also broke a 2-2 tie. After striking out three times and having many people, including the TWG commentariat on the blog, ready to write his obituary as a Major Leaguer, Longoria smacked one of the most impressive home runs you will ever see. The ball left his bat so fast and so hard that I am sure I smelled the smoke here in Italy. I am also sure there was some sort of sonic boom, or was that the Philly Phaithful groaning at yet another blown Knebel save? Either way it was sensational. Pity it was not the game-winner because I really wanted Logan Webb to get the Win.

Take a look:

Interestingly, during the Longoria at bat in which the homer was blasted, Dave Fleming was commenting with Shawn Estes that Philly was one of two parks in which Longoria had not yet homered. Scratch that off the list. Up next, the last park in which Longo has not homered: Miami here we come.

The win gives the Giants a 26-21 record, good for third place and 6.5 games behind the Bums. The Phillies have now lost 11 of their last 15 games and the Philadelphia Phaitfhul is not happy about it.

This is from The Good Phight:

“You may find the word “incompetence” harsh, but when the same kinds of bullpen decisions are being made night after night after night, decisions that are hard to determine in their logic, it’s the only word that can be used to describe what it is that Girardi is doing.”

and this:

“The 2022 Phils though are pretty much exactly like the past few years – A team that doesn’t have a discernible strength because the offense doesn’t live up to its preseason billing and again is plagued by too many of the same weaknesses (fielding, bullpen – especially the closer, depth, roster fringes).”

Be grateful, Giants fans.

The Box

Kapler Protest Status

Manager Gabe Kapler was on the top step of the dugout during the National Anthem to begin yesterday’s game. He said he would suspended the boycott of the anthem in honor of Memorial Day:

“While I believe strongly in the right to protest and the importance of doing so, I also believe strongly in honoring and mourning our country’s service men and women who fought and died for that right,”

Brandon Belt Injury Update

It was reported yesterday that Brandon Belt is in San Francisco undergoing treatment for inflammation on his knee. There was no timetable on his return. As much as I love Brandon Belt, I think it’s time for the Giants to start thinking about their first baseman of the future. BB9 is not getting any younger…

Tonight’s Game

Jakob Junis will face Ranger Suarez (yes, that’s his name) in tonight’s game that begins at 6:45 PM, Liberty Bell time in Philly.