Rest in Peace, Vin

Vin Scully died tonight, at the age of 94. He was the consummate professional, who ultimately defined and perfected how to do the job. I didn’t agree with his politics, but he kept it out most of the time. Scully was one of the greatest announcers – and absolutely the greatest secret Giants fan – of all time. Vin, you were the best I ever heard. You made baseball a pleasure.

Giants Fall Behind Early as Wood and Defense Fail

Alex Wood committed a throwing error trying to pick off a runner at second, then was failed by the defensive outfield. The Giants started this game with two errors in the second – they could have been easily charged with three. Ugly.

• WOOD PITCHING FOR SF
• Freeman grounded out to first.
• T. Turner hit sacrifice fly to center, Barnes scored, Betts to second.
• Betts singled to right center, Lux scored, Barnes to third.
• Bellinger hit sacrifice fly to right, Thompson scored.
• Barnes hit by pitch.
• Lux singled to center, Alberto scored, Lux safe at second, Thompson safe at third on fielding error by center fielder Slater
• Thompson picked off second, Alberto to third on pickoff error by pitcher Wood.
• Thompson walked, Alberto to second.
• Alberto singled to left.
• 4 RUNS, 3 HITS, 2 ERRORS

Wood allowed two more runs, one in each of the next two innings to give the Bums a Giants 0, Dodgers 6, lead. But the Giants stormed back in the fifth to score five.

• ANDERSON PITCHING FOR LAD
• Slater grounded into fielder’s choice to third, Machado out at second.
• Machado singled to right.
• Wade Jr. lined out to right.
• Bart homered to center (408 feet), Villar scored.
• González scored on Anderson wild pitch, Villar to third on wild pitch by Anderson.
• Villar doubled to right, Flores scored, González to third.
• González singled to right, Belt scored, Flores to second.
• Flores singled to right center, Belt to third.
• Mercedes fouled out to first.
• Belt singled to left.
• 5 RUNS, 6 HITS, 0 ERRORS

Giants 5, Dodgers 6

The Giants managed to load the bases with nobody out in the sixth, on two walks, and a brilliant bunt by Joey Bart. Down by just one, they chased the starter Anderson, who could not record an out in the sixth. But the Giants failed to score ANYONE.

A strikeout looking by La Monte Wade, Jr. was on a questionable call. A weakly hit pop-up by Dixon Machado wasn’t deep enough to score the runner at third. And a strikeout of Austin Slater got Los Angeles reliever Evan Phillips out of the jam. argh. Bases loaded and nobody out, we stranded ’em all.

Tyler Rogers had a nine-pitch scoreless seventh to follow up on John Brebbia’s scoreless sixth. But in the bottom of the seventh, Alex Vesia shut down the Giants: Belt (K), Mercedes (K) and Wilmer Flores, fouled out to third.

Tyler Rogers started to throw another great inning in the eighth, picking up Hanser Alberto (K) and Trayce Thompson (flied out to left). But then Rogers gave up a two-out triple to Gavin Lux. He followed that with five straight 71 – 73 mph sliders to Austin Barnes who ripped a double, scoring Lux. That was it for Rogers. Giants 5, Dodgers 7.

The Giants brought in Alex Young, who gave up a triple to Cody Bellinger, knocking in Barnes and a double to Mookie Betts, knocking in Bellinger. Young finally popped up Trea Turner to end the top of the inning, Giants 5, Dodgers 9. sigh.

The Giants went quietly in the eighth and ninth.

The Trade Deadline Came and Went

Curt Casali is no longer a Giant. Darin Ruf is gone, too. We got J.D. Davis from the Mets for Ruf. Farhan Zaidi made some small-time moves, but at least he didn’t sell Carlos Rodon, or Joc Pederson or some other beloved Giants for nothing. Also, now we can root for the team we actually are from here on out, not the team we could be.

These are most likely the guys we will see playing for the Giants the rest of the way.

Position Players

Joc Pederson, Wilmer Flores, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Evan Longoria, Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski, Louis Gonzalez, Austin Slater, Tommy La Stella, La Monte Wade, Jr., J.D. Davis, Austin Wynns, Joey Bart, Dixon Machado, Yermin Mercedes, David Villar, Jason Vosler, Donovan Walton and Heliot Ramos

Starting Pitching

Carlos Rodon, Logan Webb, Alex Cobb, Alex Wood, possibly Jake Junis

Relievers

John Brebbia, Tyler Rogers, Dominic Leone, Camilo Doval, Jarlin Garcia, Alex Young, Sam Long, Yunior Marte and Zach Littell. Mauricio Lloveras should be back in September. Jose Alvarez could return, too.

Let’s Go Giants!

Beat L.A.!!!

Let’s start a winning streak!