Darin Ruf's return overshadowed in SF Giants 10-5 loss to Dodgers
The SF Giants were blown away by Max Muncy and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, falling to 5-7 on the season as they wrap up their first homestand of the year. Despite jumping out to an early 3-0 lead, the Giants lost 10-5 thanks to a rough outing by starter Alex Cobb and the complete "dismantilization" of San Francisco's bullpen.
SF Giants starter Alex Cobb pitches against the Dodgers. (2023)
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Cobb was working around baserunners throughout his outing, but escaped a Freddie Freeman walk and Will Smith single in the first inning by retiring Giants' killer Max Muncy and J.D. Martinez. The Giants offense rewarded Cobb in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run rally against Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler called Kershaw, "one of the greatest pitchers to have ever lived," during his pregame media availability. And while the future Hall of Famer was far from the sharpest version of himself on Wednesday night, he turned a solid outing, which was all the Dodgers offense would need. Kershaw finished the night with four strikeouts across six innings pitched, surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits and a pair of walks.
Infielders Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores got the Giants rally started with a pair of singles, putting a pair of runners on base for the middle of the order. Right fielder Michael Conforto beat out a double play ball, which setup J.D. Davis for a sacrifice fly.
Then, the newest member of the Giants roster, designated hitter Darin Ruf, smashed a double off the left-center field wall in his first plate appearance back in a Giants uniform. The hit recorded a 104.5 mph exit velocity off his bat.
"He's had a tough go up until today," Kapler said about Ruf during his postgame media availability. "I think there's feelings of relief from him. In addition, I think people were just really happy for him. He's as well liked as anyone we've had here over the past couple of years. He's performed really well for our team."
It's too early to tell if Ruf will really be able to rejuvenate his career in San Francisco once again, but the right-handed slugger did at least give fans one more memorable moment against the Dodgers. He finished the day 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
The Giants capitalized on a fielding error by Dodgers second baseman Miguel Vargas in the second inning, with Flores recording a two-out RBI single.
Cobb kept the Dodgers off the scoreboard until the top of the fourth inning. Giants center fielder Bryce Johnson, who had replaced Conforto to start the inning, just missed catching a flyball from Martinez against the wall. The ball bounced away from Johnson, turning into a lead-off triple. Martinez scored on a single by James Outman. Conforto was removed from the game with left calf tightness.
"It's the worst command I've probably had as a Giant," Cobb said after the game. "Stuff was not good. Velocity was there, but my curveballs weren't as sharp as I'd like and my split just wasn't biting tonghit. So a bad combination. I felt like I battled a little bit early on trying to get some outs and I had an opportunity to field a comebacker and really not let things get out of control, and I just missed it."
While Outman was caught attempting to steal second on an excellent throw by Giants catcher Joey Bart, Cobb was unable to escape the fourth. He allowed three straight two-out hits, including an RBI double to Mookie Betts before he was removed from the game and replaced by southpaw Scott Alexander.
Alexander allowed a line shot to Freeman that could have easily given Los Angeles the lead, but center fielder Bryce Johnson made an incredible catch against the wall. However, Johnson remained on the ground for several minutes after the play and was removed from the game to undergo MLB's concussion protocol.
Alexander's scoreless appearances streak ended at 14 when he returned to the mound in the top of the fifth. Despite the platoon advantage against Muncy, the greatest hitter in MLB history (or something like that) blasted a game-tying home run.
Taylor Rogers walked the first three hitters of the sixth, loading the bases for Freeman, who worked an incredible 14-pitch walk.
"It's draining, but it's fun," Rogers said after the game about his prolonged battle with Freeman. "It's a good battle and hopefully he thinks the same."
Rogers' tenure with the Giants is off to an incredibly tumultuous start. After dominating throughout the preseason, Rogers has allowed an earned run in four of his first five outings this season and has recorded just one strikeout while allowing four hits, two home runs, and six walks. The Giants will be patient with Rogers, who is in the first season of a three-year, $33 million deal, but the bullpen was built to feature him as a clear top setup option. He has fallen well short of those expectations thus far.
After his outing, Rogers threw his glove in the garbage in the Giants dugout. He said he plans to leave it in the trash.
"These are one you don't ever figure out until the next day," Rogers said postgame. "You don't ever sleep really well when your thoughts are running all night."
Rogers was lifted from the game for right-handed reliever John Brebbia. Brebbia, who was pitching on back-to-back nights, induced a sacrifice fly from Will Smith before Muncy returned to the plate and jumped on an 82 mph slider. Muncy slowly walked up the first base line as right fielder LaMonte Wade Jr. drifted back towards Levi's Landing in right field. Wade eventually ran out of room, and Muncy trotted around the bases for another home run. It was his fourth home run in the three-game series against the Giants and his 25th career blast against San Francisco.
The Giants managed to add a run in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI single by Flores, who finished the day 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI. But the game proved already far from out of reach. In the bottom of the ninth, facing former Giants first-round pick Phil Bickford, Estrada hit a solo home run to left field.
In the blowout, Kapler gave righty Ross Stripling a chance to salvage the bullpen and find a rhythm. While he surrendered plenty of hard contact, including a home run by Trayce Thompson and a double off the wall by Martinez, Stripling recorded six strikeouts over 3.1 innings pitched and seemed to settle down by the end of his outing.
The SF Giants ended their first homestand of the season on a whimper. While the energy at Oracle Park was giddy following Ruf's return and RBI double, the mood slowly turned over the course of the evening. Losing a pair of outfielders to injury only raises more questions about the Giants ability to keep pace in the National League early this season. They will have one day off before they head to Detroit, where they will face the Tigers on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 3:40 PM Pacific.
