After the Giants faced the top three teams in the National League (Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers), they traveled to Denver to play the Colorado Rockies (63-75). San Francisco then traveled to Chicago to battle the Cubs (64-76).
In game one against the Rockies, the Giants could have had a letdown after a tough series against the Dodgers. Still, on the game's third pitch, Darin Ruf hit a home run to put San Francisco up 1-0. After a Kris Bryant strikeout, Buster Posey put the Giants up 2-0 with his 17th homer of the season.
The runs kept coming, and so did the homers (4). San Francisco put a considerable number of runs (10) on the scoreboard. Thairo Estrada jacked two of his own as both went to the left field bleachers. Kevin Gausman pitched seven strong innings by striking out nine and allowing just three runs for his 13th victory of the season, keeping the Giants in first place.
"This group came ready to play today. Late flight last night, get in at 1:30 in the morning," manager Gabe Kapler said. "The whole crew has a very, very quick turnaround and tired eyes this morning. These guys got ramped up well, got prepared and ready to hit, obviously, from the first pitch."
In game two, the Giants went bigger. San Francisco scored 12 runs, and that is plenty for Logan Webb. Webb pitched seven innings allowing three earned runs and striking out six. It was Webb's ninth victory of the season compared to only three defeats. He had 13 straight starts of only allowing two runs or fewer. Webb mentioned his start:
"I was trying to stay away from the big inning and really not walk anybody," Webb said. "Because when you start walking these guys and give them free bases, that's when you get in trouble. Luckily, I was able to execute that. I kind of went with the game plan, and it worked out."
Interestingly, even though the Giants scored 12 runs, they only hit one home run. Mike Yastrzemski hit a solo shot, his 22nd of the year. He would join Steven Duggar in driving in three total runs. Those also getting RBI were Evan Longoria, Posey, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Tommy La Stella, and even Webb got into the action with a double to left field.
The Giants have an NL league-leading 207 home runs; the former highest was 235 in 2001.
Game three was much closer. However, Wade and Longoria contributed two RBI in the ninth. The crucial hits put the Giants in the winning seat after either being tied or down the entire game. Anthony DeSclafani was dominant for four innings but struggled in the fifth. Elias Diaz led off with a double, and pitcher Jon Gray drove him in with a single. After both Raimel Tapia and Brendan Rodgers singled, DeSclafani left the game with the bases loaded. Jarlin Garcia was asked to get the Giants out of the jam.
He got Charlie Blackmon to ground into a fielder's choice, but he drove in another run. Then, Trevor Story doubled, and he scored Tapia. The threat ended when Garcia struck out Ryan McMahon. San Francisco bounced right back at the top of the sixth.
Belt led off with a single, and Wade followed with a single, bringing up Crawford. Crawford hit a home run to left field on the first pitch that barely got over the wall tying the game. Unfortunately, Diaz led off the bottom of the inning with a home run of his own off of Zack Littell to put the Rockies back up 4-3.
It was the top of the ninth that made all the difference for the Giants. Posey walked to lead off the inning, Estrada singled, moving pinch-runner Mauricio Dubon to second. Belt reached safely on a single infield, loading the bases with no outs bringing up late-game hero Lamonte Wade.
Wade would single and drive in both Dubon and Estrada and once again come through for the Giants. Longoria would double with two outs scoring in both Belt and Wade while extending the lead by three runs (7-4). Crawford talked about Wade's big hit.
"He's had so many big hits for us this year," Crawford said of Wade. "Down to our last strike a couple of times and then so many tiebreaker, go-ahead base hits for us. He's been a huge for us."
Jake McGee would close out the game and earn his 30th save on the season, and Tyler Rodgers would earn the victory his sixth. The Giants became the first team to win 90 games and sweep the Rockies in Colorado with the victory.
After sweeping the Rockies, San Francisco traveled to Ohio and took on the Chicago Cubs. The three-game set began on September 12th.
Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the fourth in the first game, but the Giants responded with six total runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth. San Francisco got on the board when Wade drove in Belt on a single. At the top of the seventh, Longoria hit his 11th and drove in Crawford for their first game lead. Belt with two outs would duplicate Longoria and go deep with a two-run home run of his own, and putting up the Giants 5-1.
Longoria would drive in his third RBI when he hit a sacrifice fly to right field and scoring Bryant. Jay Jackson would come into the ninth and close the door. Overall, San Francisco pitched well in a bullpen game. Eight pitchers entered the game, and Camilo Doval came away with the victory.
In game two, the Giants blasted the Cubs 15-4. Both La Stella and Belt hit three-run home runs. La Stella was laser-focused as he had three hits, including a double and five RBI, while scoring three times. The big innings for San Francisco came in the second and fifth, where they scored 11 total runs.
"I just want to make sure I'm getting something in the zone," La Stella said. "I think I was little more focused on that today."
Belt continued to hit the ball well. On top of his home run, he doubled for the second straight game and has hit 23 homers, including 12 in his last 28 contests. He also has 10 hits in his previous 21 plate appearances. Longoria added to the mix with three RBI, and Yastrzemski drove in two runs.
Kevin Gausman had another solid outing. He allowed just three runs on eight hits and struck out nine. Gausman now has 200 strikeouts on the season and won his fifth straight outing.
"I knew I was getting close," Gausman said. "Obviously a cool think to accomplish. something I've been trying to do for a long time." He also mentioned the success of the Giants. "We believe we're the best team in baseball right now, and we're a dangerous team."
Caleb Baragar came in and pitched three strong innings. After giving up two earned runs on a home run after being called back up from Sacramento, it was a good sign. He earned a save in his appearance, which was second.
In the third game, it was a much closer situation. After scoring 21 runs in two games against Chicago, the Giants were battling for most of the contest. In the end, San Francisco went on to win for their seventh straight victory.
Wilmer Flores flew out to Chicago for just one game before returning to San Francisco, and he made it count. Flores hit a home run and drove in three runs. He has been dealing with a strained left hamstring since September 1st.
"We're on a run here. Any little thing counts. I always want to play. If I have to fly in for one game, I'll do it again."
Flores matched his career-high 18th home run, and Logan Webb (10-3) won his matchup for his seventh straight. However, it wasn't his best outing. Webb allowed four earned runs in six innings while striking out five. Both Rodgers and Tony Watson earned holds, and McGee got his 31st save on the season.
As for Bryant's return to Chicago, he went for 4 for 12 with five runs. He just needs to stay away from colliding with Austin Slater in the outfield. However, manager Gabe Kapler said it was more due to the lack of communication from Slater.
"We definitely have to tighten up our communication," Kapler said. "That play didn't stop us from winning the game, but it may have stopped us from being at our best throughout that game."
The Giants are back home in a four-game set with the San Diego Padres and a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves before hitting the road again.
Edit: The San Francisco Giants won Game 1 of the series versus San Diego, officially clinching a playoff spot for 2021. This series will be recapped in further detail in next week’s Week in Review Article.
Transactions:
Per ESPN
September 12, 2021
Reinstated OF Austin Slater from the 7-day IL and 2B Wilmer Flores from the 10-day IL. Optioned RHP John Brebbia and LHP Caleb Baragar to Sacramento (Triple-A West).
September 11, 2021
Sent 2B Donovan Solano to Sacramento (Triple-A West) on a rehab assignment. Sent RHP Jake Jewell outright to Sacramento.
September 10, 2021
Placed LHP Jose Quintana on the paternity list. Recalled RHP Jay Jackson from Sacramento (Triple-A West).
September 7, 2021
Claimed RHP Jake Jewell off waivers from Los Angeles Dodgers and optioned him to Sacramento (Triple-A West).
September 6, 2021 Recalled RHP Kevin Castro from Sacramento (Triple-A West). Optioned RHP Jay Jackson to Sacramento.
