San Francisco Giants Morning Minute: From Gumby Shoulders to Head Held High

On this edition of the San Francisco Giants Morning Minute, we discuss the reversal of Gumby shoulders, Pagan’s wheels, and excellent defense.

More from San Francisco Giants

Good morning, San Francisco Giants’ fans, and welcome to another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. On Friday, the Giants opened their three-game weekend series with the Philadelphia Phillies with a thrilling, nail-biting 5-4 win. Jake Peavy earned his fourth win of the year, while Elvis Araujo took his first loss. Santiago Casilla closed the door for his 17th save.

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost on Friday, having their six-game winning streak snapped. The Giants gained a game in the National League West, and are now ahead by seven games, their biggest lead in over two years.

Here’s what went on Friday.

1 – From Gumby Shoulders to Head Held High

For the most part, Brandon Belt is a pretty even-keeled player on the baseball field, but sometimes, he makes it very clear that he is disappointed in himself. When his shoulders start to droop (which has been dubbed “Gumby shoulders” by the Giants’ announce crew), you know he’s unhappy. That was the case in the fifth inning yesterday.

In a big spot in the game with the Giants down 2-1, Belt came up in the fifth with the potential tying run on third base with only one out. While ahead in the count, Belt popped out weakly to shallow left field, not deep enough to get that run in. His shoulders dropped as Belt did his Gumby impression.

He had a chance for redemption in the seventh, with the bases loaded and the Giants still trailing by a run. Facing tough left-handed pitcher Elvis Araujo, Belt crushed an 0-1 pitch into right-center field, clearing the bases and putting the Giants ahead, where they would stay for good.

Gumby shoulders don’t last long. Belt proved that on Friday night. Just two innings after showing that self-disapproval, Belt was standing on second base with his head held high, celebrating internally as the scoreboard changed.

2 – Pagan’s Wheels are Turning Smoothly

For a few years now, Angel Pagan has been a spark plug for the Giants’ offense. But far too often, he’s been stuck on the sidelines dealing with various injuries to various parts of his body. That was the case earlier this season, as he landed on the disabled list with a hamstring strain, but Pagan is back, and that hamstring looks to be in fine shape.

In the first inning, Pagan had runners on the corners with two outs, and bounced a weak grounder to short. Maybe a week or so ago, when Pagan was just working back into the lineup, that’s an inning-ending groundball. On this night, Pagan was blazing down the line from the left-handed batter’s box, and beat Freddy Galvis‘ throw to drive in a run. In the same inning, he stole second base pretty easily for his seventh steal of the year.

Pagan added two other hits on the night, including a run-scoring single in the seventh, adding what turned out to be a huge insurance run. That extra run made it a 5-2 game, and was the difference when the game ended 5-4. Pagan’s re-addition to the lineup has been a great boost to the offense.

More from Golden Gate Sports

3 – Defensive Gems

Friday night was a great night for the Giants’ defense. Trevor Brown, catching in place of a resting Buster Posey, entered the game with his fair share of struggles throwing out potential base-stealers (21 percent, 4-15). But in the second inning, Brown made a fantastic snap throw to first base, picking off Galvis to end the frame. In the third inning, he gunned down Odubel Herrera as he attempted to steal second base, ending that frame as well.

Peavy had a great play of his own in the third frame as well, as he made a fantastic kick save on Peter Bourjos‘ groundball up the middle. The ball kicked away toward first base, but Peavy stuck with it and completed the underhanded flip to first to retire a very fast runner.

And with regular third baseman Matt Duffy out, his replacements had a couple of nice plays, including the game-sealing play. In the third inning, Conor Gillaspie made a kneeling backhanded stop on a line drive to third, came up and fired to get the out.

But the premier play came in the ninth inning, when Ramiro Pena, who was switched in after pinch-hitting in the eighth, ended the ballgame with a spectacular play. The bases were loaded with two outs, and Phillies’ hitter Tyler Goeddel chopped a really soft grounder to third. Pena charged hard and gloved the ball, made the transfer to his throwing hand, and gunned down Goeddel just in time (confirmed after a replay review) to end the ballgame.

Next: Giants Morning Minute: Rookie Settling In

And that will do it for another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. Up next, the Giants and Phillies continue their series. The Giants send their ace Madison Bumgarner to the mound, and the Phillies counter with Jeremy Hellickson.

Home/San Francisco Giants