Jordan Hicks was uneven to start, giving up two earned runs in the 1st, and then settled in. Hey Bob, maybe we should use an opener for his starts.
He gave up seven hits in total over five, so it could have been worse. For the most part, he pitched himself out of the jams.
Hayden Birdsong came in for long relief and gave us three scoreless innings. Birdsong had five Ks and only gave up three hits. It was lockdown long relief. Though he was tested briefly, he responded, calmly and kept the Rangers off the score board.
Camilo Doval got the Save on ten pitches, nine for strikes. He was in the zone.
The Giants scored in the 1st on a bases-loaded walk and the 4th on a Christian Koss single for an RBI.
The ‘pens held and both teams played good defense. Texas made some incredible plays in the field.
Luke Jackson came in to face Heliot Ramos in the bottom of the ninth.
Heliot swung on the first pitch and hit a little dribbler towards third. He hauled ass for first. Luke Jackson came down off the mound and tried to bare-hand the ball, swing around and throw to first base in one motion, and missed wildly.
The ball rolled over to the opposing dugout with nobody near it and Heliot Ramos decided to dig for third!
This is what I meant about taking advantage of your opponents’ mistakes.The Rangers’ first baseman Jake Burger, who had finally collected the ball, tried to gun down Ramos all the way over at third from deep in foul territory on the first base side in front of the Rangers dugout.
His throw skipped, and in any case was also off line.
Heliot scampered home and slid face first into the plate, where he was mobbed by his teammates.
It was a walkoff on the first-pitch of the 9th, a single turned into a run by two throwing errors.
Ha!
Crazy
The Giants get a much needed day off tomorrow after the Gauntlet of seventeen straight games played daily.
It has been a very successful journey. The Giants ended it 10 – 7, with series wins over the Yankees on the road, and the Brewers and Rangers at home.
This team has energy!
Let’s rest Giants.
Well earned.
Giants Baseball Corner 