The 54-79 Giants won a series against the Reds, but managed to stink up the final inning so badly it feels otherwise. Ah, well, there’s always another series, at least until the season is finally over. The Giants play four against the 71-63 Diamondbacks, who will be a much more formidable foe. They are one game behind the third wild card (Padres) and would be most happy to leave with a sweep. Because of a rain delayed game in Atlanta on Monday, the published Giants schedule is changed, to put two games on Saturday, and let our guys have Sunday to rest. The pitching, especially, needs that. Here is the schedule,
• Thursday, 6:45, RHP Jose Cabrera (0-2, 5.60) vs. Landen Roupp (7-13, 4.34)
• Friday, 7:15, TBD vs. Blade Tidwell (0-0, 3.58)
• Saturday, 1:05, RHP Merrill Kelly (8-12, 5.35) vs. TBD
• Saturday, 7:05, RHP Merrill Kelly (8-12, 5.35) vs. TBD
You can see the pitching is rather tentative, as we all doubt that Kelly will start both parts of the double header. That’s what MLB’s schedule reads, as of Wednesday evening. We’ll have to put correct information in later, after it comes out.
During the last game in Boston and the Reds series, the Giants lost Carson Whisenhunt to Tommy John surgery, Adrian Houser to probably season ending arm strain, Willy Adames to perhaps season ending elbow UCL strain, Victor Bericoto to a strained knee, and JT Brubaker to ribs bruised during fielding a bunt. Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson was demoted. Bryce Eldridge attended a funeral, and will be back to face the Snakes. Grant McCray, Nate Furman, Shay Whitcomb, Spencer Bivens, Ryan Walker, Albert Molina, and Braxton Roxby came up from Sacramento. 7 out, 7 in and note that Eldridge will bump somebody back to AAA, and the team may decide to adjust the bullpen, too. There will be a test pre-game Thursday to see if you got all of that: it really is head spinning.
Well, there were good things in the Reds series: Albert Molina made a great appearance when Houser went down, ensuring the Giants could win that one. Drew Gilbert impressed, including with a running catch in which he left eye black on the outfield wall, and some big hits, including scoring 3 of what appeared to be insurance runs. Drew Cavanaugh went 4-8 in the series with a walk and 2 RBI. Jonah Cox hit an impressive two run homer. But let’s give the picture of the post honors to Raphael Devers, who homered in each game of the series, including a Weaver on Monday and a two run shot into the Bay on Wednesday. He also gave a speech to the team after the Bericoto and Adames injuries, encouraging the young players who now surround him to fight hard in each AB. His next homer will be the 30th of the season, and he has 76 RBI. Had shown himself to be a capable first basemen as well.
