But the Bums rested Mookie Betts against the Rockies in the night game and lost, so our Giants remain in fourth place in the division by half a game.

I am not going to recap yesterday’s day game against the D-backs since by now you’ve probably read all about the home runs by Tromp, Solano and Belt – or seen them. I was surprised there were only six runs scored in this one. I figured it’d be a slugfest with balls flying out in 100 degree weather. But it turned into another tightly contested, low-scoring, bullpen win. Whew.

And the Rockies scrapped out the same kind of win down in Chavez Ravine in the night game. The NL West is baseball’s best full division. I do hope three teams from the NL West get in … and I want us to be one of em! I want to face the Bums in Round One!

Tonight’s game at Oracle is pivotal.

First pitch is at 5:05 pm Pacific time and it will be Gausman vs. Gallen, a duel.

Zac Gallen has been the D-backs best pitcher. He is 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA and 54 Ks. In his last outing against the Bums he held them scoreless through seven, allowing just one hit. Gallen has not allowed more than three runs ever in his 23 major league starts. Ever. (Cue: Krukow saying, “He’s due!”)

By contrast in Kevin Gausman’s last start he gave up a couple of runs in Colorado over five innings before the Giants exploded for 23 total runs in that game, letting him cruise to a win.

The lineup cards aren’t out yet, but will be constructed from:

Bart, Belt, Crawford, Dickerson, Dubon, Flores, Longoria, Roberston, Ruf, Sandoval, Slater, Solano, Tromp and Yastrzemski for the G-men facing Zac Gallen.

and for the D-Backs: Ahmed, Calhoun, Escobar, Jay, Kelly, Lamb, LoCastro, Marte, Mathison, Peralta, Rojas, Varsho, Vogt and Walker

Ideally we win and the Bums beat the Rockies and we hit .500 in stride, marching up the standings toward the wild card seats. I will be watching – possibly at Momo’s since the Labor Day crowd of tourists should be gone.

Let’s Go Giants

Climb the standings

Beat the Snakes!

let’s Goooooooooooo