Overall, the San Francisco Giants did just above average in their seven-game homestand. San Francisco won just four of those contests. They split against the Padres after taking the first two and beating the Braves in three matchups. It is disappointing for a team in a heated battle for the top spot in the NL West and a 49-26 record at home.
Another game and another blowout victory for the Giants. This one also came with a clinch of a playoff spot as the Giants won 9-1 over the San Diego Padres. Brandon Belt got into the celebration and remembered exactly how it felt from five years ago.
"I forgot how much this burns to get in your eyes, but it burns so good,'' a beaming Belt said. "We absolutely love it.''
San Francisco became the first team to clinch a playoff opportunity. They did so by hitting four home runs on their way for an eighth consecutive victory. Tommy La Stella homered, and Evan Longoria hit a three-run shot off of Yu Darvish. Mike Yastrzemski added to the barrage of dingers, as did Belt.
This season has been a surprise, as many experts predicted, a third or fourth-place finish. The team came together as the final out was recorded and took to a celebration inside the dugout.
"Just like most years that we won it or went to the playoffs, I don't think most people believed that we'd be in this position,'' Belt said. "It's pretty satisfying to get back here after a while of not being very good. People just kept stepping up.''
Game two should go to the play of Buster Posey and the pitching of Anthony DeSclafani. Posey hit a homer run in the first, which was his 18th on the season. The last time he had 18 or more was in 2015, when he hit 19. The most were 24 in 2012. Posey also beat out an infield single and scored the go-ahead run on an error at third.
DeSclafani won for the first time in five starts when he defeated the Colorado Rockies on August 13th. He pitched 6.2 innings allowing just one earned run and striking out three. The Giants now have won nine straight, and it's their most since they won ten in 2004.
Belt and Darin Ruf got into the action as they hit run-scoring doubles while La Stella added an RBI. The Giants have scored at least six runs in nine straight contests – most in San Francisco history going back to 1958.
In-game three, the Giants couldn't continue their winning streak in a bullpen session. To make matters worse, the loss allowed the Dodgers to gain a game in the standings. Los Angeles is now just 1.5 games back of San Francisco. Fernando Tatis got into the action with four hits. Jurickson Profar hit a homer to end the Padres five-game losing streak. However, the Giants continued to score six or more runs.
The Giants hit four solo home runs, which limited their output. Thairo Estrada, Kris Bryant, Steven Duggar, and Belt all put one in the bleachers. Longoria got his 45th RBI with a double, and Posey singled in Belt in the ninth.
"We kept fighting till the very end; that's all you can ask for," Belt said.
It was a chance to add a half-game lead on the Dodgers in game four, but ultimately, it was a second consecutive loss for the Giants. San Francisco dropped the half-game and led by just one game.
Fernando Tatis Jr. went deep for his 39th home run, and San Diego split the series with the Giants. The victory moves the Padres closer to the Wild Card spot behind the Cardinals. Longoria homered for the Giants, but Kevin Gausman lost for the first time since July 30th. Gausman allowed four earned runs on eight hits. San Francisco scored their first run when Bryant scored on a wild pitch from third. Wade doubled home La Stella in the seventh, the Longoria hit his homer in the eighth. Wade would score the final run on a wild pitch in the ninth.
San Francisco still has six games with the Padres and will battle the Braves for a three-game set at home starting on the 17th. Logan Webb (10-3) will face Ian Anderson (7-5) to kick off the series.
Orange Friday was an exciting contest, but it should never have been. The Giants led 4-2 when Rodgers took the mound to earn the save. With one out and two men on, Travis D'Arnaud hit his seventh homer, putting Atlanta up 5-4.
However, Donovan Solano, with two outs, tied the game with his pinch-hit homer and added to the three homers on the night for the Giants. Crawford, Belt, and Wade all joined in the barrage of home runs. In the bottom of the 11th, with the game still tied, the night got more exciting.
Crawford went to third on a pickoff error, Longoria then was intentionally walked, and Solano was also walked after Duggar flew out to left. With the bases loaded and no pinch hitters available, Gusman was sent up to bat. On a 3-2 account, Gausman hit a sacrifice fly to right and brought Crawford for the game-winning run.
"Oh man, that was the coolest thing I've ever done in my entire career," Gausman said. "When it was 3-2, and everybody stood up, it was probably one of the coolest moments of my life. ... Just crazy." He went on to say. "More than anything, I was trying to not look ridiculous, just take good swings, swing at strikes."
Webb had another excellent outing by striking out nine and not walking a batter. He only allowed two runs on six hits.
Game two was a complete shutdown by the Giants. Alex Wood was dominant in his limited outing coming off an injury. Pitching only three innings and 59 total pitches, Wood struck out four and did not allow a run. He also didn't walk any batters. The bullpen did the rest as San Francisco won 2-0 to keep their two-game lead on the Dodgers.
Backup catcher Curt Casali drove in both runs in the fourth inning. His single to right field brought in Wade and Crawford. Dominic Leone was called upon to shut the door, and he did by earning his second save while Zack Littell earned his fourth victory.
Atlanta returned the favor in the final game between the two teams and shut out the Giants 3-0. Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario hit for the cycle, and pitcher Max Fried pitched seven innings for the victory.
To make matters worse, former Giants reliever Will Smith got the save, and San Francisco lost a game on the Dodgers as they beat the Reds 8-5. The Giants now lead Los Angeles by just one game going into the week and only 12 games left in the season.
DeSclafani pitched well in his six complete innings. He only allowed two earned runs and struck out six while walking none. All of DeSclafani's runs came on a two-run homer by Eddie Rosario. Littell gave up the other run on a home run by Adam Duvall.
The Giants have Monday off and then travel to San Diego to take on the Padres for three games. They will then travel to Colorado for another three games against the Rockies.
Transactions:
Per ESPN
September 18, 2021
Reinstated LHP Alex Wood from the IL. Optioned LHP Sammy Long to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Designated C Chadwick Tromp for assignment.
September 17, 2021
Recalled RHP Jay Jackson from Sacramento (Triple-A West). Reinstated INF Donovan Solano from the 10-day IL. Placed LHP Jake McGee on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Sept. 14. Optioned INF/OF Thairo Estrada to Sacramento.
September 16, 2021
Recalled LHP Sammy Long from Sacramento (Triple-A West). Optioned RHP Jay Jackson to Sacramento.
September 13, 2021
Optioned SS Mauricio Dubon to Sacramento (Triple-A West). Reinstated LHP Jose Quintana from the paternity list.
Mike is an avid San Francisco Giants fan since the late 1970s. In 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. Most painfully watch the Giants lose a 5-0 lead to the Angels in the seventh inning in Game 6. However, he saw Barry Bonds hit his 73rd and become the greatest hitter of all time.
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