San Francisco Giants 3 Up, 3 Down: Back at Home
The San Francisco Giants won their first series of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks at home, so let’s look at some positives and negatives from the series.
For the start of the new season, this is something I will do after each San Francisco Giants’ series. These articles will take three positive things (3 Up) and three negative things (3 Down) from the games, this time from the Giants’ first series at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
3 UP
1 – The Matts in the Rotation
With some home cooking in their bellies, Giants’ pitchers were more back to normal after a shaky start on a seven-game road trip. Matt Moore was on the mound in the home opener, and he picked up right where he left off in the postseason at AT&T Park last year. He shut down a tough Arizona lineup over eight innings, scattering just four baserunners (three hits and a hit by pitch). The lone run he allowed came in the fifth, when Yasmany Tomas yanked a pitch for a solo home run.
Most importantly, Moore was efficient. He didn’t walk a batter, and needed just 93 pitches to get through his eight frames. He went to only two three-ball counts in his 28 batters faced.
In the series finale, it was the second Matt on the mound – Matt Cain. After a really rough first inning in which he allowed a triple, two walks, and a run, Cain settled in and proved that maybe, just maybe there’s something left in his tank. He went five solid innings, allowing five hits and three walks, and was able to hold Arizona to just that one run. Any team would gladly take that from a fifth starter, especially when the top four is as strong as the Giants’.
Cain was sharper than he’s shown at any point over the last two months. His fastball had more velocity, reaching over 90 regularly, and had plenty of movement on it to along with a good curveball and serviceable changeup. He picked up his first win of the season, and at the same time, maybe gave himself a little more length on his leash.
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2 – Eduardo Nunez‘s Speed
With Eduardo Nunez on the team, the Giants have one of the fastest guys in baseball, and a player that can turn the tide of a game with his legs alone. On Tuesday, he picked up four hits, three of which didn’t leave the infield, and stole his fifth base of the season to become the first National Leaguer to reach five steals. He is well beyond pace to become the first Giant since Hunter Pence in 2013 to steal 20-plus bases, the first Giant since Dave Roberts in 2007 to swipe 30 or more, and the first Giant since Barry Bonds in 1996 to steal at least 40.
3 – Bullpen Looks Much Better
The guys in the rotation weren’t the only ones that looked much better back at home. Over the three-game series, Giants’ relievers combined for 7.1 innings and allowed just two runs on eight hits. None of those eight hits left the park. They also struck out 11 batters and didn’t walk anyone.
The most impressive inning came from Cory Gearrin, who relieved Cain in the sixth inning on Wednesday. The sidewinder came in with two runners on and no one out, looking for a double play groundball. Instead, Gearrin didn’t allow any contact. He had his best stuff of the year, and struck out the next three batters to escape the jam and hold the lead.
Hunter Strickland has also looked fantastic in the early goings. He’s made five appearances and over five innings, he’s allowed four baserunners (two hits and two walks), no runs, and has struck out six. He looks primed to be a big part of the late-inning puzzle.