Extra effort in extras

SF 8  LA 5  (10)

The Giants prevailed–miraculously–in an epic, see-saw contest in Los Angeles to get their first win against the Dodgers. Buster Posey got the biggest hit of the season, a three-run homer in the 8th to break open a nail-biting 2-2 tie. So we thought. Tyler Rogers got burned by too many squibbers and managed to give up a two-out, three-run homer to pinch-hitting Austin Barnes to blow the save. He nearly blew the game when Albert Pujols jacked one to left that would have gone out except for a spectacular catch by Mike Tauchman. In the 10th LaMonte Wade, Jr. smoked a single to score the magic runner. Mike Yastrzemski walked and with two outs Evan Longoria drove both runners home with a double. Jarlin Garcia got the final three outs to seal the win.

The urgency of beating the Dodgers made this game particularly nerve-wracking. When Buster got the big blast (his 150th, by the way) it seemed like the Giants had finally broken through the blue wall that’s been vexing them this season. Alas, it wasn’t going to be that easy. The Giants had to have another three-run lead in order to finish it off! When Pujols hit his big fly after the back-breaking, game-tying homer, I was sure it was over. But Tauchman “had it all the way” and timed his leap perfectly, reaching over the fence and plucking the ball back. He collapsed on the track but held on to keep the Giants alive.

It was a thoroughly excruciating contest. It’s hard to stomach those bullpen collapses, but to be fair to Rogers he’s pitched exceptionally well overall. One of the grounders should have been handled by Mauricio Dubon but he flubbed it, that play ought to have been the second out. Rogers isn’t really a strikeout pitcher so the fielders have to make the plays. Nonetheless the Giants survived and pulled out a great victory.

Tomorrow it’s a Fox Saturday game, 4:10 Pacific. Logan Webb gets the start.

GO GIANTS!

–M.C.