Giants take 2 of 3 from Bucs

After that ugly, excruciating 7-6 loss in extras on Tuesday, things did not look good for the good guys. Luke Jackson and Camilo Doval blew a four-run, 9th-inning lead that looked like a cinch and denied the team their fifth win in a row. An error at shortstop by rookie Marco Luciano (he had another 9th-inning error today) helped out, too. Logan Webb delivered a solid six with six whiffs and just two runs allowed. Good work by Ryan Walker and Tyler Rogers kept it that way until the mess at the end. Erik Miller was the sacrificial lamb—he threw one pitch, gave up a hit, and the Manfred Man scored to end it.

The Giants counter-punched 9-5 on Wednesday despite the unusual strategy of giving up a grand slam to the other team. The Pirates loaded the bases in the 4th against Blake Snell and then he hit Andrew McCutchen with his 87th pitch to force in the game’s first run. Sean Hjelle was summoned and he promptly surrendered the salami to former Giants prospect Brian Reynolds. The lineup chipped away with a run in the 6th, two in the 7th, and one apiece in the 8th and 9th. A four-spot in the 10th was a nice touch! The young players have really added a spark to the lineup. Seems to have fired up Matt Chapman and Jorge Soler, don’t you think? Randy Rodriguez threw a dandy two in relief with four strikeouts. Zeroes from Tyler Rogers and Ryan Walker and a scoreless 10th from Doval evened up the series.

That grand salami strategy was so cool the Giants did it again today in an impressive 7-6 comeback win. This time former Giants prospect Joey Bart got to the swing the big stick. Mason Black was victimized in a bullpen game against big-time prospect Paul Skenes. The Giants were undaunted by their early setback. They chipped away at Skenes, getting six hits and three walks while striking out just three times, but could only score once (on a force out). They also hit into two double plays. The 21-year old righty phenom was done after six (93 pitches) and his team leading 5-1. It was his third ML start. He’s 6’6″ and 235 lbs. and was the overall #1 pick in last year’s draft. There’s a lot of buzz about this guy. Regardless, the Giants added one more run in the 7th and then had a happy time in the 8th with a five-run rally. The go-ahead run was a nice liner to center by lefty Brett Wisely off lefty Aroldis Chapman. It was a 13-hit attack today. Great relief work from Randy Rodriguez and Tyler Rogers (who got the save) sealed the series win.

The next stop is New York for three against the Mets this weekend. Kyle Harrison gets the start tomorrow night (4:10 PT). They are home Monday (Memorial Day) against the Phillies.

Go Giants!

–M.C.