San Francisco Giants Morning Minute: Backups Come Through for Stellar Shark
On this edition of the Giants Morning Minute, we discuss the backups coming through for Samardzija, who pitched another stellar game in tough conditions.
Good morning, San Francisco Giants’ fans, and welcome to another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. On Tuesday, the Giants beat the Colorado Rockies in game two of a three-game set, 3-2. Javier Lopez (1-2) earned his first win of the season, while Adam Ottavino (0-2) came away with the loss. Santiago Casilla closed it out in the ninth for his 31st save.
Every team around the Giants won on Tuesday as well. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-2, to keep a four-game lead in the division. The St. Louis Cardinals knocked off the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-7, to keep the second wildcard spot and remain a half-game back of the Giants. The New York Mets beat the Cincinnati Reds, 5-3, to stay one game back of the Cardinals, and 1.5 games behind the Giants.
Here’s what went on Tuesday.
1 – Backups Make It Work
The Giants had plenty of trouble taking advantage of scoring opportunities they created themselves. After Eduardo Nunez‘s solo home run in the third inning finally put a run on the board, the Giants couldn’t score despite getting the leadoff runner on in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. When the Rockies’ defense gave the Giants opportunities, that’s when they cashed in.
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Many regulars had the day off on Tuesday, and their replacements had their fingerprints all over the rallies. Gorkys Hernandez led off the eighth inning with a bloop single down the right field line. Trevor Brown followed with a scorched liner into the hole that was stopped on a dive by Nolan Arenado. He made an uncharacteristicly off-line throw, allowing everyone to be safe. Ehire Adrianza followed with a sacrifice bunt, allowing Nunez’s groundball to score a run and tie the game at two.
In the ninth, Buster Posey led off with an easy groundball to shortstop Daniel Descalso. His throw sailed over first baseman Gerardo Parra‘s head, allowing Posey to take second. When Hunter Pence reached on an infield hit, Posey took third. Kelby Tomlinson, another one of those bench guys, brought Posey home as the go-ahead run with a line drive single two batters later.
Was that a pretty win? Absolutely not. But at this point, beggars can’t be choosers.
2 – Smooth Sailing for the Shark
It’s pretty amazing what Jeff Samardzija has done at Coors Field this season. On April 12th, he threw eight innings of two-run ball in Denver for his second start with the Giants. He earned his first win as a Giant that day. He couldn’t replicate the result as he got a no decision, but he pitched just as well.
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Samardzija rode a great fastball-changeup combination, blowing 97-plus fastballs through bats and keeping guys off balance with mid-80’s off-speed stuff. He allowed only four hits and just one walk, leading to a pair of Rockies’ runs, and matched his season-high with nine strikeouts. In 15 innings in the most hitter-friendly park in baseball this season, Samardzija hasn’t surrendered a home run.
He left the game trailing 2-1, but kept the Giants in it plenty long enough to allow that late-inning comeback. He hasn’t been perfect this season, experiencing bouts of terrible-itis, but he has shown flashes of absolute brilliance. These starts in the Coors Field elevation may be the biggest flashes.
Next: Giants Morning Minute: Rock Bottom? Not For Blach
And that will do it for this edition of the Giants Morning Minute. Up next, the Giants and Rockies conclude their season series at Coors Field. Albert Suarez goes for the Giants, opposed by veteran left-hander Jorge De La Rosa.