San Francisco Giants Morning Minute: An Unlikely Hero Gets Go-Ahead Hit

On this edition of the San Francisco Giants Morning Minute, we discuss an unlikely hero getting the go-ahead hit, and an emotional moment in the league.

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Good morning, San Francisco Giants’ fans, and welcome to another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. On Friday, the Giants beat the New York Mets in game two of a four-game set, 8-1, getting their most lopsided win of the second half. Johnny Cueto (14-3) earned his first win of the second half, while rookie Seth Lugo (0-2) took the loss despite a strong performance.

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, meaning the Giants have vaulted back into first place in the National League West by a half-game. The Giants were out of first place for just three days.

Here’s what went on Friday.

1 – An Unlikely Hero Steps Up in a Tight Spot

Though the final score looked as lopsided as any Giants’ win in the second half, it was a 1-1 game heading into the seventh-inning stretch. They needed a little bit of that Giants’ magic, and Bruce Bochy tried his best to work it. With runners on first and second and two outs in the seventh, Bochy sent pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco to the plate, forcing Mets’ manager Terry Collins‘ hand. Collins went to his bullpen, bringing in the left-handed Jerry Blevins to face the left-handed hitting Blanco.

Bochy took a risk, burning Blanco, one of only four hitters on the bench, by calling him back after he was announced and turning to his switch-hitter off the pine, Ehire Adrianza. In a tie game that looked like a game that could go for a while past nine innings, it was a big risk. The young middle infielder, however, made Bochy look like a genius.

Facing the veteran lefty Blevins, Adrianza waited back on an 89-mile-per-hour fastball. With a big gap on the right side of the infield, he slashed the ball the other way, splitting first baseman James Loney and second baseman Kelly Johnson. The hit was through, but that was only half the battle. With Jay Bruce‘s strong arm in right field, Roberto Kelly waved him Eduardo Nunez, taking a risk of his own.

With anyone else on the basepaths, a run may not have scored. But Nunez has this other gear he can turn on (usually around the time his helmet goes flying behind him), and he slid home in front of the throw, putting the Giants ahead 2-1. They wouldn’t look back, adding six more insurance runs to turn a nail-baiter into breezy walk through the ninth.

After watching Adrianza for most of the the 2013 season through the 2015 season, it’s easy to tell that this Adrianza is a different ballplayer. While there have still been hiccups (his at-bat in the ninth against Pittsburgh is still one of the worst this season), he’s a much more confident major league hitter.

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Most notably, Adrianza has been tremendous against left-handed pitching. From Spring Training to the beginning of the season, to minor league rehab to his return to the big leagues, Adrianza has swung the bat so well from the right side. Combining his Spring at-bats, minor league at-bats, and big league at-bats, Adrianza is hitting .419 (18-43) against opposing southpaws, with five doubles, two home runs, and 10 runs batted in.

This can all be attributed to an improved plate approach. After striking out in 18.1 percent of his plate appearances from 2013 to 2015, Adrianza has cut that down to 11 percent this year (again, looking all plate appearances at every level to give a broader view).

Adrianza alluded to his confidence after the game. Speaking through interpreter Erwin Higueros, Adrianza has this to say after the game:

"“Everybody knows that I had this problem last year, I wasn’t able to deliver in the clutch…but that’s in the past. I came to spring training ready to deliver in those situations. I did not deliver two days ago, but I had to put that aside and be ready.”"

And ready he was. He’s earning his place in the big leagues. Keep it up, young man.

2 – An Emotional Moment Elsewhere

This last tidbit has nothing to do with the Giants, but it does deserve a little shoutout. Reds’ reliever Michael Lorenzen was activated from the bereavement list on Friday, after missing a few games to be with his family following the passing of his father. He pitched the seventh inning with a big lead, and took an at-bat in the bottom half of the inning.

On the first pitch he saw, Lorenzen crushed a fastball to right field, watching it as it flew into the stands. He rounded the bases and fought back tears as he neared home plate, looking skyward and pointing to the heavens after crossing home. The emotions were clear on his face as he entered the dugout and was greeted by each of his teammates, ending with a big hug from his catcher, Ramon Cabrera. At the request of the crowd, Lorenzen gave them a well-earned and much-deserved curtain call.

There’s exceptions to every rule, including the “there’s no crying in baseball” rule.

Next: Giants Morning Minute: What Pitcher's Duel?

And that will do it for this edition of the Giants Morning Minute. Up next, the Giants and Mets meet for a day game in game three of their series. Matt Moore takes the mound, still in search of his first Giants’ win, against everyone’s favorite 43-year-old pitcher, Bartolo Colon.