by
Greek Giant
Webb’s Disappointing Pitch
When the Giants had a 3-1 lead heading after the top of the fifth and Logan Webb cruising we were all feeling good, as in, “Webb gets his first win of the season in a dominant start” good. But it was not to be. The pesky Marlins plated a run in the bottom of the fifth and then with Webb still in the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jorge Soler hit a two-run pinch hit home run that put a dagger in the heart of Giants fans.
Bad things happen when the Giants visit Miami.
The Soler homer came with two outs after the Giants had just turned a slick double play. The long ball came on a sinker right down the middle, probably a result of Webb’s fatigue after throwing 104 pitches. It’s arguable whether or not he should have been lifted for a pinch-hitter. Part of me is glad Gabe Kapler elected to keep his ace in the game. Unfortunately the result was a bummer.
My pitching instincts tell me that Webb is throwing too many sinkers and needs to change speeds more between his fastball and a change up. I think Major League hitters are sitting on the sinker and able to let other pitches go because they know he throws that pitch so often, they can sit on it. I also think there are issues with location from time to time that get Webb in trouble.
Young Giant Bats Come Alive
The Giants did have some positive developments in the game, however. They scored first in the top of the second inning thanks to a booming RBI double by Heliot Ramos. Remember him? It was his first Major League RBI and it was a liner right over the Marlin left fielder.
First career RBI for @HeliotRamos 🙌 pic.twitter.com/LtVNM5EI7M
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) April 17, 2023
It was also the second straight such double because Joey Bart did the same thing, hitting a rocket to reach second base. Bart’s double came on a 98 mph fastball by Jesus Luzaro and came off the bat at 108 mph. That Joey has some mean power. He went 2-4 on the night. Wilmer Flores had three hits and scored a run.
Speaking of Luzaro, the big Marlin lefty is a talented hurler and sports an impressive fastball. I would like to see him in a Giants uniform.
David Villar would then hit a two-run double in the top of the third inning. That hit was a thing of beauty: a demonstration of Villar’s easy power in the form of a liner to right center where nobody was playing him. Villar had been slumping prior to that hit to the tune of 2-23. That double came on an 0-2 pitch!
The ol’ hit it where they ain’t pic.twitter.com/kVg5Zmsx9G
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) April 17, 2023
Those two runs gave the Giants a 3-0 lead with their ace dealing against a team nobody expects to contend this year but a Marlins team with fight and some young talent. Webb was not able to get the shutdown inning in the bottom of the third as the Marlins pushed a run across.
Today’s Game
The second game of the three-game series begins tonight at 6:40 PM, Miami time. It will be Wood vs Cabrera on the mound.