Giants nip Cubs, take series

SF 4  CHC 2

It was a bullpen game in Chicago yesterday. John Brebbia opened with a scoreless 1st and Tyler Rogers followed with a scoreless 2nd and 3rd. Thairo Estrada drove in J.D. Davis in the 4th for a 1-0 lead but the Cubs tied it up with a run in the 5th off Yunior Marte (who also pitched a scoreless 4th). Estrada’s homer in the 7th gave the Giants a 2-1 lead and Wilmer Flores hit a two-run shot in the 8th to make it 4-1. Zach Littell pitched the 6th and got two outs in the 7th. Scott Alexander got the final out and the next two outs in the 8th but gave up a homer to Seiya Suzuki. Closer Camilo Doval got the last out of the 8th and pitched the 9th for the save.

Overall six pitchers gave up 12 hits but only three for extra bases. They allowed one walk and struck out five on 153 pitches. Bullpen games aren’t very sexy but they can certainly work. The Giants are only listing four starters (Rodón, Webb, Cobb, Junis) these days so expect more games like this one.

Good news! The Giants are extending Wilmer Flores for two more years. No financial details yet. Everyone loves Wilmer.

The Giants are at home tonight (6:45 PT) and face the Braves and rookie phenom Spencer Strider. He has 183 strikeouts in 120-2/3 IP. He got knocked around for six runs in 3-2/3 when the Giants played the Braves back in June but has been dominant in his last four starts (26 IP, 3 R, 41 K). Alex Cobb will take on the Braves lineup.

Go Giants!

–M.C.