The San Francisco Giants took a two-game win streak into New York to face the Mets for three games, then onto Atlanta for another three games this week. How did they fare?
Game 1 against New York was anything but the battle the Giants faced against the Oakland Athletics. San Francisco jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the fourth inning, all off of Mets rookie Tylor Megill and all of them earned runs. They would add another run in the eighth to win (8-0).
Brandon Belt hit two of San Francisco's four home runs to push his career-best total to 19. Belt ended a 2-for-30 skid with two homers and a single in his first three plate appearances and added an RBI infield single in the eighth for his season-high fourth hit. The 33-year-old had never topped 18 homers in the big leagues.
Rookie Sammy Long pitched into the sixth inning, and the Giants trounced the slumping New York Mets 8-0 Tuesday night. Long (2-1) tossed a three-hitter over 5 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old hadn't pitched above low-Class A before this season, but the left-hander with a big-breaking curveball was sharp in his sixth big league start, striking out four and walking one.
LaMonte Wade Jr. and Mike Yastrzemski also connected in the first four innings. The Giants jumped to a 7-0 advantage against Megill (1-3).
Game 2 was a bit closer. It was a surprisingly messy performance from the Giants. They committed two errors. One by Kris Bryant, who sailed a throw from third base nearly into right field. While outfielders Austin Slater and Alex Dickerson bumped into each other and dropped a fly-ball. The error was directed toward Dickerson. Also, Belt dropped a foul ball. Giants manager Gabe Kapler commented:
"Tonight, it wasn't good enough. I think everybody knows that," San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler said. "That said, it's a win on the road against a really hungry team."
However, San Francisco induced five double plays. A timely hit from Brandon Crawford saved the major league-leading Giants. Crawford's two-run double in the seventh, which turned into the winning runs. Bryant homered in the fourth for their first run.
The Giants had to dodge a bullet in the ninth as the Mets loaded the bases with two outs. Still, Jake McGee got Pete Alonso to pop out to second to end the threat and earn his 29th save on the season after Tyler Rodgers earned his 24th hold.
Johnny Cueto got the start after being activated from the injured list for the first time since August 9 due to a right flexor strain. He gave up five hits and three walks with an unearned run while striking out two.
Game 3 became a sweep for the Giants. Bryant launched a two-run homer, and Darin Ruf broke the eighth-inning tie with an RBI single to right field. Bryant's home run was his 24th on the season and his sixth with San Francisco. He now has hit four of those six against the Mets beginning on August 16.
Ruf's RBI came when Yastrzemski singled against pitcher Seth Lugo to start the eight, and the pitch hit catcher Curt Casali. Ruf then hit his single through the right side of the infield to give the Giants the winning run (3-2). Rodgers would earn his 12th save. Bryant would comment on his new team.
"I can honestly say I've never really been on a team where we had a bullpen like this," Bryant said. "There's zero selfishness here."
San Francisco traveled to Atlanta and August 27 and would lose, ending their five-game winning streak. It was a disappointing defeat as the Giants had a two-run lead late in the game.
Buster Posey put the Giants on top in the first with a two-run homer scoring Slater. In the second, pitcher Kevin Gausman grounded into a fielder's choice to score Yastrzemski on a throwing error by Braves' catcher Travis d'Arnaud. Tommy La Stella would double and score Thairo Estrada on the play in the fourth, putting the Giants up by two runs (4-2).
The lead was lost in the seventh as Zach Littell gave up a three-run home run to Atlanta Braves right fielder Jorge Solar. The homer came after Ozzie Albies doubled in Joc Pederson.
The Giants almost made a comeback in the ninth. Wilmer Flores hit a home run. With two-outs, La Stella hit a deep drive to right field, where Pederson made the catch by first overrunning the ball but reaching back and making a jump into the wall to snare the ball in the heel of his glove. He was able to hold on as he crashed to the ground.
Game 2 against Atlanta was more successful as the Giants won 5-0 as Logan Webb pitched another gem. He threw seven strong innings to win his seventh consecutive decision. Webb has eight victories and only three defeats this season and has 13 straight starts in which he has not allowed more than two runs.
Braves manager Brian Snitker was impressed with Webb. He stated:
"That's a real sinker," Snitker said. "He’s got a good slider, change. He can elevate his fastball. He’s good. ... I’m very impressed with that guy.”
La Stella hit a homer in the first and added his second RBI when he hit a sacrifice fly to right in the third to score Webb, who earlier doubled to left field. Yastrzemski added a home run to center field in the seventh. Ruf singled to left to plate Posey in the eighth while Yastrzemski got his second RBI when he doubled to left to score Flores, putting the Giants up 5-0.
It was a crucial bounce-back game for San Francisco after heartbreakingly losing game one.
Game 3 was an ugly contest against the Braves. Anthony DeSclafani gave up three runs all earned and two home runs in the fourth. DeSclafani came off the injured list after an ankle pain sidelined him since August 18. He retired the first six batters, but Jorge Soler hit a home run to lead off the fourth, and Austin Riley hit his 28th homer with Freddie Freeman at first base.
The Braves would continue to add precisely two runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth inning. All six runs were charged to Long. The Giants couldn’t plate anyone, which was the first time since over a month ago when San Francisco lost to the Dodgers 8-0 on July 28 at home. It was also the last time they lost by more than five runs.
Even though the Giants lost the series to Atlanta, it was the first series loss since San Francisco faced St. Louis on July 18. The Giants also didn’t lose any ground to the Dodgers in the standings as they still maintain a 2.5 game lead.
Transactions:
Per ESPN
August 30, 2021
Claimed LHP Jose Quintana off waivers from Los Angeles Angels.
August 29, 2021
Reinstated 1B Brandon Belt from the bereavement list. Reinstated RHP Anthony DeSclafani from the 10-day IL. Optioned SS Thairo Estrada to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Designated RHP Tyler Chatwood for assignment. Signed 1B Wyatt Mathisen to a minor league contract.
August 27, 2021
Reinstated RHP Kevin Gausman from the 10-day IL. Optioned C Chadwick Tromp to Sacramento.
August 26, 2021
Placed INF Brandon Belt on the bereavement list. Placed INF Donovan Solano on the 10-day IL. Recalled C Chadwick Tromp and INF Thairo Estrada from Sacramento (Triple-A West).
August 25, 2021
Reinstated RHP Johnny Cueto from the 10-day IL.
August 24, 2021
Placed RHP Kevin Gausman on the 10-day IL. Reinstated INF Evan Longoria from the 10-day IL.
Mike is an avid San Francisco Giants fan since the late 1970’s. His first game he saw live Jack Clark hit a home run. He has seen the Giants lose 100 games and also win three World Series rings. Great/Unfortunate memories have been watching Joe Morgan hit a homer to knock the Dodgers out of the playoffs, seeing the Giants win 104 games and still not make the playoffs, and lose a 5-0 lead to the Angels in the seventh inning in Game 6, but see Barry Bonds hit his 73rd and become the greatest hitter of all-time.
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