San Francisco Giants Morning Minute: Posey Double Dips, Gearrin Channels Bumgarner

On this edition of the San Francisco Giants Morning Minute, we discuss Posey double-dipping, Gearrin going full Bumgarner, and the Night Train going off the tracks.

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Good morning, San Francisco Giants’ fans, and welcome to another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. On Saturday, the Giants played some more Coors-ball, defeating the Rockies 10-5 for their 14th win in 16 games. Cory Gearrin earned the win, his first as a Giant, while Carlos Estevez was the losing pitcher.

The Giants are 31-20 on the season, and their .608 winning percentage is second-best in baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers won again, beating the New York Mets 9-1 for their fifth win in six games. They haven’t been able to gain any ground in that time, and remain 4.5 games back in the division. The Rockies remain third in the division, 6.5 games back.

Here’s what went on Saturday.

1 – Buster Posey with Déjà Vu Home Runs

In a game where the offense needed to step up to pick up a bullpen that suffered from Coors-itis, it was Buster Posey who, like so many times in the past, stepped up the biggest. Posey hit two three-run home runs, the first putting the Giants ahead in the first inning, and the second putting the Giants ahead in the eighth inning, for good this time. The second home run was nearly déjà vu.

In the first inning, with Joe Panik standing on second base and Matt Duffy on first, Posey got ahead in the count. In a 1-0 count, Rockies’ pitcher Eddie Butler left a fastball in the middle of the plate, and Posey crushed it to center field. Rockies’ center fielder Charlie Blackmon could do nothing but watch it sail over the new, extended wall in right-center field.

In the eighth inning, again with Panik on second and Duffy on first, Posey worked his way ahead in the count. On a 2-0 pitch, Rockies’ pitcher Carlos Estevez left a fastball in the middle of the plate, and Posey crushed it to center field. Rockies’ center fielder Blackmon could nothing but watch it sail over the new, extended wall in right-center field.

See how similar those passages are? It’s like déjà vu all over again.

2 – Cory Gearrin Goes to the Madison Bumgarner School of Bunting

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In the eighth inning, where the Giants scored six runs to take the lead for good, relief pitcher Cory Gearrin had to take an at-bat with runners on first and second and one out. Unsurprisingly, Gearrin was given the bunt sign.

Gearrin waved through Gonzalez Germen‘s first pitch, missing the bunt completely. Gearrin watched strike two, and found himself in an 0-2 hole. The next pitch was a 93-mile-per-hour fastball, and Gearring took a hearty rip, smacking it into right field for his first career basehit. Not only does he have a perfect big league average, he also flashed a smile standing on first base, and that might also be a first in his big league career.

But don’t think we don’t know what your plan was, Gearrin! Obviously, the plan all along was to make the coaches take off the bunt sign so he could show off that sweet swing. He learned that from Bumgarner.

3 – The Night Train is off the Rails

The entire Giants’ bullpen has had their fair share of ups and downs, but perhaps no player’s “downs” have been more notable than Javier Lopez‘s. Lopez has annually been one of the most reliable pitchers in Bruce Bochy‘s bullpen, but he hasn’t been himself this year.

Last year was one of Lopez’s best seasons yet, as he posted a 1.60 ERA, 0.890 WHIP, and held opposing lefties to a microscopic .112 batting average. This year has been a complete reversal, and the “Night Train” is way off track.

Lefties are slashing .391/.481/.609 against Lopez, and he’s walked more opposing lefties (three) than he’s struck out (two). He would have to hold lefties hitless in their next 57 at-bats to drive their batting average down to where it was last season.

The Giants’ left-handed specialist has proven to be very good against right-handers, holding them hitless in nine at-bats. But the Giants need those big outs against their opposition’s best lefties. Lopez has been that guy for so long, and his presence in the bullpen is necessary.

Next: Giants Morning Minute: Cain's Bad Luck Tour Continues

That will do it for this edition of the Giants Morning Minute. Up next, the Giants and the Rockies finish their series at Coors Field (thankfully). Johnny Cueto gets the nod for the Giants, while lefty Chris Rusin will be his opposite number.