Two outta three ain't bad

SF 4 LAA 2
The Giants win their first series of the 2018 season by nipping the Angels in the getaway game. Johnny Cueto was excellent again, allowing no hits through the first five innings and finishing with six shutout innings. An error by Brandon Crawford extended the 6th inning and that likely cost Cueto a chance to pitch into the 7th, but it also gave Brandon Belt a chance to flash some leather. He fielded a grounder from Luis Valbuena with the bases loaded and one out and threw a laser beam to BCraw to get the force and JohnnyC hustled over to cover first to complete the 3-6-1 DP. It was a big moment and preserved the 4-0 lead. Good thinking and execution by our southpaw first baseman. The Angels would rally in the 8th with a two-run homer from–who else?–Mike Trout and would put two on in the 9th but the Giants prevailed.

Speaking of Brandon Belt, he had a 21-pitch AB in the 1st against rookie Jaime Barria. Yes, you saw that right: a twenty-one pitch at-bat. That’s a major league record. It’s Belt, Mr. Hard Luck, so it ended in a line out and not a hit, but it was a great event nonetheless. He had 16 foul balls including 11 straight! And that was a small part of Belt’s big day as he singled and scored ahead of Evan Longoria’s homer in the 3rd and homered himself to lead off the 5th. He also led off the 7th with a single. I think Belt is one of the most under-rated players in the game. Few are as hurt by their home yard, and his gangly, awkward-looking style doesn’t help. He is certainly under-appreciated by Giants fans who I think are put off by his hang-dog mien and fail to appreciate his overall fine play. I’m happy he’s making some noise.

No rest for the weary as the Nationals pull in to San Francisco for three games starting tomorrow night. Chris Stratton faces Gio Gonzalez. GO GIANTS!

–M.C.