Two in a row!

SF 7  TEX 3
Drew Smyly looked like he might be the first Giants starter to get through five innings but a finger injury ended his night after four. It was a strong four, three hits and two walks, along with seven strikeouts. The Giants blew a rundown at third base with two out in the 1st and the next batter drove in two runs, otherwise Smyly would have had a clean slate. Catcher Tyler Heineman has only appeared in ten major league games, it’s not surprising that he would make a mistake on a play like that. His brother Scott is an outfielder for Texas–Tyler got to tag out Scott later in the game! He also got his first extra-base hit, a double in the 8th.

The Giants managed seven hits but they also collected ELEVEN walks (four by Yaz). Donovan Solano and Evan Longoria had the big RBI blows. Solano, aka Donnie Barrels, leads MLB in RBI with 13!

Once again the bullpen had to put up a string of zeros and they delivered the goods. Shaun Anderson (2/3), Caleb Baragar (1/3), Rico Garcia (1), Tyler Rogers (1), and Trevor Gott (1) kept a lid on the Rangers. Sam Selman gave up a solo shot in the 9th but whiffed three. I don’t know how long you can play this all-hands-on-deck style, it seems like it will come tumbling down soon if the starters and “bulk innings” guys can’t get it done. But nothing is normal so I don’t expect normal baseball. The Giants are doing what they have to do with the players they’ve got. Tonight, it worked.

Tomorrow they have a chance to sweep.

GO GIANTS!

–M.C.