Relievers Save the Day

Apr 12, 2023 | 2023 Season, Latest Post

by
Greek Giant

Pitching, Pitching, Pitching

The game ball for last night’s 5-0 win over the Dodgers surely has to go to the entire pitching staff.  Wood and five relievers combined on a three-hitter last night. Alex Wood skirted trouble thanks in no small part to excellent defense, especially from Michael Conforto who was running like Willie Mays chasing down potential Dodger extra base hits. Gabe Kapler chose to pull Wood after 4 2/3 innings of work and a walk that set up trouble. Jakob Junis played a critical role in the critical inning of the game: the top of the sixth when the Bums loaded the bases with nobody out.

Junis would strike out Chris Taylor. Then Scott Alexander would come in and retire James Outman by fielding a come backer and taking the force out at home. From there Alexander struck out Rojas and disaster was avoided, the Giants tenuous 2-0 lead was preserved.

John Brebbia allowed a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts in the seventh, then retired the next three batters to end the inning and the threat. Anytime Betts gets on base, it’s a scoring threat.

Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval set down three batters each in the eighth and ninth innings to finish the game. The Dodgers stranded ten runners in the game.

Alex Wood was very strong throughout the game. He had the Dodgers mostly flummoxed as they flailed away at slicing and dicing fastballs in and low, away and down in the zone. This was a big start for Wood. The Giants needed it after Monday night’s bummer. Wood recorded five strikeouts against three walks and only one hit.

Muncy Gets Analyticsed

Yet, I made it a verb because I hate it so much.

One interesting note: one night after driving in seven runs and demolishing the Giants Max Muncy was benched because of the genius of Analytics (Muncy bats left and the Dodger braintrust did not want him facing Alex Wood, a lefty) and Dave Roberts. Thank you Dave Roberts! Muncy would appear as a pinch-hitter later in the game and strike out!

Giant Bats

The Giants took a 2-0 lead came courtesy of a two-run double by Joc Pederson in the bottom of the first inning after Wade and Conforto reached base. Pederson’s double was a low-liner inside the first base line. Wade would reach base three times in the game and look fantastic as the leadoff hitter grinding out at bats and taking many pitches that were not strikes.

The Giants put the game away in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-run home run by David Villar that scored Yaz.

Brandon Crawford then followed with a shot of his own.

All in all this game was very 2010. GG likes this kind of baseball!

With the win the Giants are now 5-6.

Tonight’s Game

Tonight the Giants and Dodgers will play the series finale.