Slater slays 'em

SF 6  AZ 5

Austin Slater hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the 8th to rescue the Giants from ignominious defeat in Arizona. It was a prodigious blast, well over the stands in center field, and it came on the heels of a 4-for-40 slump. Flemm reported it as 482 feet, and that figure is on the ESPN highlight clip. But according to the Statcast website it “only” went 463 feet! I don’t know why there’s a discrepancy, but it matters little. It was a huge hit by a guy that hasn’t had many lately. Slater was in the game after pinch-hitting for Alex Dickerson in the 5th. Dick had a walk, a hit, and a run scored off D-Backs starter Jake Faria. Slater grounded out against lefty reliever Joe Mantiply, then homered in his next at-bat against another lefty, Ryan Buchter. The Giants “matchup-madness” strikes again.

It was a frustrating night. Thirteen men left on base, 2-for-14 with RISP. They probably should have scored ten runs. Sammy Long lasted only four innings, unable to hold a 4-0 lead. Arizona took advantage of an error and some dink hits to take the lead in the 5th against two Giants pitchers, Zack Littell and Jose Alvarez. Tyler Rogers looked a little shaky but Dominic Leone and Jake McGee were solid in the final three frames.

6:10 game time this evening. Anthony DeSclafani gets the call.

Happy Fourth and Go Giants!

–M.C.