San Francisco Giants Morning Minute: Shark Locking in at the Right Time

On this edition of the San Francisco Giants Morning Minute, we discuss the Shark dialing In at the right time, and Smith settling down.

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Good morning, San Francisco Giants’ fans, and welcome to another edition of the San Francisco Giants Morning Minute. On Thursday, the Giants opened a four-game series with the San Diego Padres by squeaking out a 2-1 win. They clinched the season series against San Diego with their 10th victory. Jeff Samardzija (12-10) earned the win, while Christian Friedrich (5-11) was on the other side. Sergio Romo closed it out for his second save.

The New York Mets also won, beating the Philadelphia Phillies on a walk-off three-run home run in the 11th. With the St. Louis Cardinals off on Thursday, the Mets and Giants are equal for the first wildcard spot at 81-72. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies to maintain a six-game lead in the NL West.

Here’s what went on Thursday.

1 – Cue the “Jaws” Theme

Since re-establishing a curveball for the first time in years, Samardzija has been possibly the Giants’ most consistent starting pitcher. On Thursday night, the big right-hander used his entire repertoire to dazzle over seven shutout innings, holding down a young Padres’ lineup full of highly-regarded prospects.

The Shark and his catcher, Buster Posey, locked into a rhythm early, and kept it going through 105 pitches. Early on, he put hitters away with his power sinker, blowing it through bats and spotting it perfectly on the corners. In the fourth inning, he struck out the side in order, each time hitting Posey’s glove like it was magnetized to the ball. He turned to the curveball later on, punching out one in the fifth and two in the sixth with it.

His command was nearly impeccable all night. He went to three balls in a count just five times, and never threw ball four. It was his seventh start of the year with no walks. His nine strikeouts matched his season-high, a total he’s reached three times before.

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With the postseason right around the corner, and the Giants fully in the race, Samardzija is locking into a rhythm at the exact right time. After scuffling through most of June and July, he’s been downright dominant since. Over his last nine starts, Samardzija owns a 2.39 ERA, 1.101 WHIP, .222 opponent batting average, and .320 opponent slugging percentage. Whether his role is out of the bullpen or as a starter, this version of Samardzija can be a difference maker for the Giants.

2 – Smith Acclimating Just Fine

It’s not exactly a move from Philadelphia to Bel Air, but Giants’ reliever Will Smith took a little while to settle in after a trade took him from Milwaukee to San Francisco. He didn’t look like a big acquisition for the first few outings, but those jitters are gone and Smith has become a lockdown reliever on the west coast.

After finishing the eighth inning on Thursday, Smith has pitched 15 consecutive scoreless appearances. During that time, he’s allowed just three singles (an opponent average and slugging percentage of .083), and has struck out 17 batters in 11 innings. He’s also stranded all five runners he’s inherited in those games.

With the Giants’ bullpen in flux, Smith has been a calming presence. With another three years of control, the Giants have themselves a very solid lefty that can get just about anyone out.

Next: Giants Morning Minute: No Re-Run This Time

And that will do it for this edition of the Giants Morning Minute. Up next, the Giants and Padres continue their series with a 7:40 start time. Albert Suarez will match up against Edwin Jackson.