by
Greek Giant
“We had no business winning that game.”
-Kris Bryant
The lead is now 4 games. Last night the Giants won one of their most memorable games of the season. This is a victory that we will talk about for a long time, maybe forever. The Giants entered the ninth down 4-0 to an utterly dominant Merrill Kelly until Diamondbacks Manager pulled a Matt Williams (see 2014 NLDS, Game 2) and removed Kelly after 102 pitches in the ninth. His reasoning was not entirely flawed as Kelly was recovering from a recent injury and the truth is any bullpen that cannot hold a four-run lead in the ninth gets the Manager off the hook.
There were many heroes for the Giants, beginning with LaMonte Wade Jr. who hit a two-run single to tie the game with two outs and after going 0-4 on the night. The big Lefty fouled off some tough pitches and put up a master class in clutch hitting, again. Kris Bryant was another hero. He knocked in the game-winner with a double in the tenth and started the magical ninth with a base hit. BB9 also had an RBI single in the ninth inning rally. BCraw also had an RBI knock and it was a thing of beauty.
How wonderful it is to see Brandon Belt back at first base and back in the line up.
The game started off a bit ugly for Alex Wood and the Giants when the DBacks scored two in the first and two in the third. At the time, as I was watching the game unfold on At Bat while having dinner with family and friends, I said to myself, “Four runs will not beat the Giants tonight.” I was right (pats self on the back). The other heroes were the Giants relief corps in the form of Jackson, Leone, Garcia, Alvarez, Rogers and McGee, each of whom pitched a scoreless inning to keep the deficit at four runs, a major factor in the game. Equally impressive, those six innings of work were all hitless!
For the year the Giants are 8-2 in Phoenix. They are 20-4 overall against the Diamondbacks since last season. You think there are a few Dodger fans cursing Arizona right now?
With the win, as noted above, the lead is now four games. This week the Giants gained a game in the standings thanks to having two games in hand against their rivals.
What just happened?
Here is Bryant for the win:
KB for the lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eRtQaC52g3
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 5, 2021
The Box
Tonight’s Game
The Giants travel to Milwaukee for three to face the first place Brew Crew for the first time this season. Tonight’s pitching match up is Logan Webb vs Corbin Burnes. Game time is at 8pm Bob Uecker time.
Roster Move
To make room for Brandon Belt on the 25-man roster the Giants put Kevin Gausman on the 10-day IL for Paternity Leave.