Giants offense goes missing in series loss to Dodgers

The Giants had a unique opportunity Thursday. After the Dodgers snapped San Francisco’s seven-game winning streak in game one of their doubleheader, they had a chance to start a new winning streak that same day. 

Spoiler alert: they didn’t.

Offensively, the Giants bats were ice-cold. They simply could not hit Dodger pitching Thursday. Kevin Gausman (L, 4-2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 Ks) had a short but nice outing in a rather uneventful end to the doubleheader. Giants went quietly in a 2-0 loss.

Gausman took the mound for the Giants against Dodgers lefty Caleb Ferguson in game two. 

A stress-free first inning for Gausman, surrendering just a walk to Justin Turner. For the Giants sake, they were hoping their bats would wake up in game two. Well, not in the first inning. Ferguson retired the Giants in order.

With one out in the top of the second inning, Joc Pederson homered to center. Giants trailing the Dodgers 1-0.

Fast forward to the top of the fourth inning. Pederson, the only one who can get a hit on either team, lined a double down the right-field line. Next batter, Will Smith, doubled him home. Dodgers extended their lead to 2-0.

Despite the two runs, Gausman was dealing. He held the Dodgers offense in check, and the same could be said for the Dodgers pitching staff. A very quiet showing from both offenses.

Gausman was replaced by Sam Selman with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. All things considered, a nice outing for him in game two despite departing before he could complete five innings.

Gausman is one of the Giants potential trade chips as the August 31 trade deadline looms. This is what he had to say about the possibility of being traded:

“It’s part of the process, i’ve been traded before. Knowing everything that happens when you get traded, i’m definitely more prepared this time around. The only thing you can do is go out there and pitch and try to be a good teammate. I don’t want to leave these guys, honestly. It’s been a really great group of guys, and they’ve made coming to the ballpark really fun.”

The Giants struggled to get a hit, a walk, anything through the first four innings. The Dodgers used an opener in game two, and their first first three pitchers carried a combined perfect game into the fifth inning.

Brandon Belt ruined the Dodgers’ fun with a single to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Donovan Solano grounded into a fielder’s choice, Belt out at second.

Darin Ruf struck out and Joey Bart grounded out. Six outs left foe the Giants offense.

Selman back out for the top of the sixth, hitting Turner to lead off the inning. The second time Turner had been hit Thursday. Two batters later, Max Muncy walked. Runners at first and second, nobody out.

Selman was replaced by Trevor Gott. A double pay ball ended the threat.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Joey Rickard walked. Just the second Giants baserunner all game. Mike Yastrzemski followed with a walk.

Wilmer Flores down swinging for the second out. Evan Longoria grounded out, ending the Giants best scoring opportunity of the game.

Following Thursday’s doubleheader, Giants manager Gabe Kapler discussed his team’s lack of offensive output in both games. This is what he had to say about game two:

“In game two, their bullpen did a nice job. They brought a tough bullpen and put them all together for seven strong innings of work.”

Sam Coonrod took over for Gott in the top of the seventh, retiring the Dodgers in order.

Belt bunted against the shift for an infield hit in the bottom of the seventh inning. Back to back strikeouts from Solano and pinch hitter Pablo Sandoval. Joey Bart, the last hope for the Giants.

After an explosive debut and first series, the rookie has had a rough series against the Dodgers at the plate and behind the dish.

After the game, Kapler talked about Bart’s recent struggles in the majors:

“A lot of it has to do with the league is going to make quick adjustments to Joey [Bart], and Joey is always going to need to adjust back. He’s going to have his bumps and bruises, he’s going to go through a stretch of 15, 20 at-bats that don’t look great. He’s going to struggle behind the plate, he’s an inexperienced, young player that is going to take lumps along the way. He’s also going to have a lot of successes, and he’s going to be really good for a long time.”

Bart walked, and the Giants had the winning run at the plate in Brandon Crawford. Three pitches, all strikes, and Crawford went down swinging.

A very uninspiring effort from the Giants Thursday, losers of both games of the double header, scoring a combined zero runs.

Taylor Wirth is SFBay’s San Francisco Giants beat writer. Follow @SFBay and @WirthTM on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of Giants baseball.