Logan Webb finally gets some run support in SF Giants 9-1 win over Rockies
The SF Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 9-1 on Saturday night. Coming off a wild 9-8 comeback victory to start the series, ace Logan Webb hoped to lead the Giants to a second consecutive victory. Of course, the Giants' offense has given Webb less run support than every other qualified starting pitcher in MLB this season. Luckily, the lineup delivered. Following the win, San Francisco moved just ahead of the Reds in the standings but remained 2.5 games back of the Dbacks for the final National League Wild Card.
SF Giants ace Logan Webb pitches against the Rockies on September 9, 2032.
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Webb retired the Rockies on just eight pitches in the top of the first inning. Rockies starter Chase Anderson would need 14 pitches to record one out. Before he had done so, he had surrendered a line drive double to Mike Yastrzemski-who would finish the day 4-for-5 at the plate-and a two-run home run to Thairo Estrada, who was back in the lineup after missing Friday night's game with conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Anderson held the Giants scoreless in the second and third innings, but a lead-off double by J.D. Davis in the bottom of the fourth inning sparked a rally. LaMonte Wade Jr. singled to put runners on the corners. Davis scored on a wild pitch before Joey Bart walked.
Brandon Crawford lined out to right field, the first out of the inning, but an RBI single by Luis Matos led Rockies manager Bud Black to replace Anderson with Gavin Hollowell. Hollowell immediately surrendered an RBI single to Yastrzemski before center fielder Nolan Jones misplayed a shallow fly ball from Estrada into an RBI fielder's choice. Had Jones caught the ball, Matos had no intentions of tagging up to score. However, the ball dropped, allowing another run to score.
The Giants had given Webb a 6-0 lead by the end of the fourth inning. It was only the fifth time the Giants have scored at least six runs in Webb's 30 starts this season. Unsurprisingly, they are undefeated in those games.
Despite the early lead, Webb was a bit less around the strike zone than he has been throughout the season. Perhaps motivated by his spike in home runs allowed this year, Webb seemed more willing to throw chase pitches and risk falling behind in counts. Maybe it was only a viable plan against the Rockies' weak lineup, but Webb only surrendered three singles and a walk across six shutout innings pitched with four strikeouts.
The Giants offense seemed to be trying to make up for a season's worth of missed opportunities when Webb was on the mound. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Yastrzemski came just a few feet shy of a homer, settling for an RBI double to score Crawford. Then, Wilmer Joc Pederson, and Davis kept the rally going with singles to put San Francisco ahead 9-0.
With a massive lead and Webb's pitch count north of 90 pitches, Giants manager Gabe Kapler turned to his bullpen at the start of the seventh inning. Rookie Ryan Walker got the call and allowed a run to score. Granted, the shutout would have remained intact if catcher Joey Bart had held onto a throw from rookie Blake Sabol on a sacrifice fly. Sabol is far from a fluid defensive outfielder and needs to continue improving his routes, but he nearly pulled off an impressive double play.
Giants relievers Scott Alexander and Luke Jackson each completed shutout innings of work to finish off the Rockies. It was quite fitting that Jackson, whose walk-in song is Darth Vader's theme "The Imperial March," was the final pitcher to enter the game on Star Wars Night.
Now 72-70 on the season, the SF Giants will look to complete a three-game sweep of the Rockies on Sunday Night Baseball. The Giants have not announced a probable pitcher, although it is expected to be rookie Keaton Winn (Giants Top 9 Prospect). While it would normally be veteran Alex Cobb's turn in the rotation, he has been pushed back after receiving a cortisone shot in his hip. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 PM Pacific at Oracle Park.
