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Reporting from ORACLE PARK
A three-run fifth inning backed another strong effort from Logan Webb as the San Francisco Giants cruised past the Detroit Tigers with a 3-1 victory on Saturday afternoon to secure a series victory.
San Francisco (61-58) has been on quite the roll as of late, now victorious in 13 of 17 games since July 24. At a point of the season where postseason possibilities remain, the Giants are placing themselves in position to do damage in an otherwise crowded National League Wild Card race.
This story has been updated with quotes and post-game material from the Giants clubhouse at Oracle Park.
Both clubs were hitless for the first four innings — the Tigers were rocking and rolling with a bullpen game against Webb — but it was Detroit who struck first in the top of the fifth when Parker Meadows tripled and later came around to score to make it 1-0.
The Giants immediately answered back in the home-half when Mike Yastrzemski and Jerar Encarnacion roped back-to-back singles to begin the inning.
Brett Wisely has been quiet, even cold, offensively in his last 18 games since July 14. The San Francisco second baseman entered play mired in a 7-for-43 stretch, but otherwise had solid numbers with runners in scoring position and an even better clip against southpaws.
So maybe it wasn’t too surprising when Wisey came through in the clutch against Tigers left-hander Brant Hurter — with two men in scoring position — by pulling a go-ahead two-run double just inside the first base line and past the outstretched glove of first baseman Bligh Madris. A few batters later, Heliot Ramos tacked on another run with an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-1.
A two-run lead was enough for Webb to work with. The Giants ace right-hander once again pitched to his favorite tune — a lengthy, efficient outing that allowed his team a chance to win. Webb completed seven innings of one-run ball while allowing four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.
Webb completed seven innings for an MLB-leading 13th time this season, a clear indication and confirmation of his usual workhorse status. In 21-2/3 innings over his last three starts, Webb has allowed only two runs.
The Giants corner infield was noticeably impressive on Saturday with third baseman Matt Chapman leading the charge — as always — with an incredible leaping grab at third base in the sixth to retire the side, save a run and rob Madris of a run batted in.
Chapman’s defensive heroics have been a theme throughout his career and this season is no exception. The Gold Glove third baseman said he’s only doing his job:
“I’m just in the moment trying to save runs. If that ball gets over my head, they score, probably the other run gets to third base. We weren’t necessarily tearing the cover off the ball today so to be able to save some runs like that is huge. For me, it’s fun looking back at it but in the moment, i’m trying to save runs to win the game.”
In the eighth, Mark Canha placed himself into the action with a diving backhanded stop at first base in the eighth.
After the recent demotion of Camilo Doval to Triple-A Sacramento, reliever Ryan Walker received his first save situation as the new assumed closer for Melvin. The righty collected a quick out before yielding a walk and a hit, followed by two strikeouts to close the game.
On being named the new closer, Walker said he never thought the opportunity would come to fruition:
“I was really excited for the opportunity. I never really thought this would happen. Hopefully we can get many more (wins).”
Up Next
The Giants will seek a series sweep of the Tigers on Sunday afternoon and will turn to young righty Hayden Birdsong (3-1, 4.73 ERA) to make the start against Detroit’s Keider Montero (2-5, 5.62 ERA). First pitch is 1:05 p.m.
Notes
The Giants celebrated the ten year anniversary of their 2014 World Series team with a reunion on the field ahead of Saturday afternoon’s game against the Tigers. A few dozen players, coaches and front office members took part in the ceremony, including the highly-anticipated return of World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner, whose October heroics firmly etched his name as one of the greatest postseason performers the game has ever witnessed.
