The Case of the Missing Shutdown Inning

Aug 11, 2022 | 2022 Season, Latest Post

by
Greek Giant

Shutdown Innings Are Critical

OOOOboy… shutdown or is it “shut down” or is it “Shout DOWN” inning? Either way, the Giants would not know last night because on two occasions after the boys scored three runs (in the top of the third and again in the top of the sixth) the Padres counted with six and seven runs respectively. That’s just ugly.

I am a biiiig believer in the shutdown inning. Let me tell you why. When your team scores, it is paramount for your pitcher to go out on the mound and pitch a shutout for the inning after. It keeps momentum and the initiative on your side. It also makes a statement that this lead will not be relinquished easily. A shutdown inning is one of the quality signs of a good team and a good pitching staff. For the Giants relief corps, specifically Marte and Junis, it was not to be.

The shutdown inning vanished after the second inning that saw the Giants take a quick 1-0 lead on a J. D. Davis home run to right field that the books say traveled 394 feet but I beg to differ. It went at least 400 feet. Davis had three hits on the day.

The Giants later added three runs in the top of the third on a Juan Soto error in right and a Wilmer Flores single. Suddenly it was 4-0 Giants and things were looking good for a series win on the road against a quality team.

Nope.

In the bottom of the Giants got Machadoed and Druried and Cronenworthed and Sotoed. The San Diego Baseball Club Unlimited made it a six-run inning and the game was Padres 6, Giants 4.

Cue the TWG fans with the nervous breakdown.

But in the top of the sixth inning the Giants were able to put together a sac fly by and RBI single by Pederson that sandwiched a Cronenworth error. Three runs in and the Giants back on top.

The Giants got this, right?

All it takes is a shutdown inning.

Nope

In the bottom of the sixth inning the Padres scored seven runs. Ball game. It would be cruel for me to recount that inning. Suffice it to say there were homers and doubles, singles and just madness.

Jakob Junis Has a Bad Day

Jakob Junis had his worst outing of the season, going 2 1/3 innings and allowing seven hits and six runs while walking two and striking out three. That’s nine base runners in two plus innings if you are keeping score at home.

Ouch!

The Padres looked like they finally woke up from their post trade deadline slumber.

The Giants leave town going home to face the Pirates for three, with a few questions marks and without naming a starting pitcher for the series opener.

All is not well in Giants Nation.

The Giants Around the Web

San Francisco Chronicle Game Report

Andrew Baggarly’s Game Report in The Athletic

The ESPN recap

The MLB.com recap

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