San Francisco Giants Morning Minute: Much-Needed Momentum To End Trip
On this edition of the San Francisco Giants Morning Minute, we discuss the Giants gaining momentum to end the road trip, and a new presence in the ninth.
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Good morning, San Francisco Giants’ fans, and welcome to another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. On Sunday, the Giants completed a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5-3 victory. Matt Moore (3-4) earned the win with seven strong innings, while Zack Greinke (12-6) was on the losing side. Hunter Strickland finished the game for his third save.
The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Miami Marlins, so the Giants gain some ground. They are now three games back in the National League West. The New York Mets won, and leapfrogged the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wildcard spot. They are 1.5 games back of the Giants, while the Cardinals are two back.
Here’s what went on Sunday.
1 – Much-Needed Momentum
The Giants finally have a three-game winning streak in the second half, and they can thank the Diamondbacks for it. After limping to a 17-32 record before this series began, the Giants willed their way to one win, slugged their way to another, and did a little bit of everything to come away with their third straight win.
It was only a series against a last-place team, but these are still big wins for a team that was desperately in need of a string of wins. After disheartening losses to the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies, this sweep gave the Giants a 5-5 road trip. An even road trip seemed nearly impossible after a 2-5 start, but sometimes things work out that way.
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With a three-game winning streak no longer foreign to the second-half Giants, they have momentum as they enter the final 20-game stretch of the season. They’re still holding their own destiny in their hands, and now is the perfect time to build on this streak.
2 – Time For A Change? Think Speedy’s…
Earlier in the week, Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy removed Santiago Casilla from the official closer’s role, opting instead to go with the “closer by committee” approach. On Sunday, with a two-run lead in the eighth inning, Bochy turned to Strickland to get a four-out save. The hard-throwing right-hander has enjoyed quite a solid season, and he continued that on Sunday.
Strickland entered with a runner on first after Sergio Romo allowed a solo home run and a single, and Will Smith struck out Jake Lamb on three pitches. Strickland followed suit, striking out Brandon Drury on a trio of pitches.
Strickland got into a bit of trouble in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Socrates Brito lofted a broken-bat double into left field, but the pitcher buckled down. He struck out Rickie Weeks, got Jean Segura to ground out on a check swing, and forced Chris Owings to line out softly to shortstop Brandon Crawford.
Though it’s described as a “by committee” approach, but this could be a good chance to get Strickland the experience pitching in the final inning to preserve a lead. The Giants need a more calming presence in the frame, maybe that could be Strickland. He’s been tabbed as a “closer of the future” multiple times in the past, and Derek Law‘s injury gives him a chance.
Next: Giants Morning Minute: Pence Stepping Up
And that will do it for this edition of the Giants Morning Minute. Up next, the Giants head back home to start seven-game homestand with three against the San Diego Padres. Jeff Samardzija and Paul Clemens will take the mound in game one.