The Giants went five and five on the ten day road trip, losing two of three to the Reds, taking two of three from the Phillies, and finally, splitting the series 2 – 2 with the Marlins.

Miami’s Sandy Alcantara again mowed down the Giants in game one, allowing just three hits in seven innings. Alcantara walked two and struck out eight. He has completed at least seven innings in his last five starts allowing a total of just three earned runs. He lowered his ERA to 1.81 in the win. Alex Wood pitched well for the Giants, going five and a third with five K’s, but he took the loss. Giants 0, Marlins 3.

The Giants struck back in a big way in game two, smashing a season high five home runs off Marlins reliever-turned-starter Elieser Hernández and the Marlins staff. Brandon Crawford hit his fifth grand slam. Mike Yastrzemski doubled and homered. Joc Pederson, Thairo Estrada and Jason Vosler all hit big flies as well.

Alex Cobb was a late scratch with tightness in his back. I am worried about the 34-year-old Cobb. He isn’t durable. John Brebbia opened, then newest Giant reliever Sean Hjelle threw three strong innings and Zach Littell came in and took the fifth and sixth, striking out four and taking the win. Hjelle was good in his first action. Gabe Kapler used position player Donovan Walton to close the game and it resulted in runs in ‘garbage time’ for Miami. Giants 15, Marlins 6

The Giants lost a Logan Webb start in game three in a pitchers’ duel with Miami’s Pedro Lopez. The guys had a 4 – 0 lead on a Vosler solo shot and a Walton double that drove in three runs. But then Webb allowed a single, a double and a single to start the fifth. Marlins center felder Jesus Sanchez scored on a throwing error by Joey Bart. John Brebbia entered to relieve Webb and gave up a two-rbi single to Garrett Cooper, tying the score 4 – 4.

At the end of the road trip, having used a position player in relief the night before, Kap turned the ball over to Tyler Rodgers in the bottom of the ninth. Tyler had a terrible outing. He gave up an infeld single to Jesus Aguilar, then hit Avisail Garcia with a pitch that ran in, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Then he got called for a balk, advancing the winning run to ninety feet away. Finally he gave up a deep sacrifice fly to Sanchez, giving the Marlins the walk-off. walk-oof, more like. Giants 4, Marlins 5

The Giants won the final game of the series behind Jake Junis, and took the season series from Miami four games to three, salvaging the road trip, on which they went .500. Junis was great, throwing six solid innings for a quality start: two hits, one earned run and eight strikeouts.

The Giants loaded up the bases for Walton in the top of the fourth and Donnie hit his first grand slam as a Giant! Dom Leone, Tyler Rodgers and Camilo Doval closed out the game. It was great to see Tyler get back out there after the rough start the night before and close out an inning without incident. Giants 5, Marlins 1.

The road trip started off bumpy, but Kapler and Co. pulled it out. The Giants are home again, facing the Rockies this week at Oracle. I will be at the day game on Thursday. Let’s go Giants! Pound the Rocks! Smash the Boulders!