Joc Pederson, LaMonte Wade Jr. homer in SF Giants 10-4 loss to Phillies
The SF Giants lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 10-4 on Monday night, failing to take advantage of an early opportunity. With a Cubs victory over the Tigers, the Giants have fallen into the third National League Wild Card spot and are only a half-game ahead of the Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Reds. The blowout loss also drops the Giants' run differential to just +2 on the season, they are on the verge of a negative run differential for the first time in months.
Phillies RHP Aaron Nola throws a pitch against the SF Giants on August 21, 2023.
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Designated hitter Joc Pederson gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a line drive home run to right field. Pederson might have had to settle for a single at Oracle Park, but without a high wall in right field at Citizens Bank Park, his 110.6 mph exit velocity shot landed in the bleachers.
It seemed like the Giants were in for a big offensive day, with the three hitters after Pederson singling to load the bases with one out for Johan Camargo. But, as has been the case amidst the Giants horrendous stretch of situational hitting, Camargo did the worst possible thing, hitting an inning-ending ground ball.
Opener Scott Alexander immediately gave up the tying run in the bottom half of the first and had to be replaced by Sean Manaea after recording just two outs. Manaea, who has been excellent since his move to the bullpen, seemed to be lacking the sharp stuff fans have been accustomed to. The Phillies worked long at-bats against the veteran lefty and a two-run homer by Edmundo Sosa gave them a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
In perhaps the last bright spot for the Giants on the day, first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a towering home run off Nola in the top of the third, cutting San Francisco's deficit to a run.
Soon Manaea would allow a home run to Alec Bohm and be replaced by recently recalled Sean Hjelle, who was very clearly cannon fodder as the Phillies extended their lead. Hjelle allowed six earned runs across 4.2 innings of work, but he did not get much help from his defense. Recent call-up Wade Meckler's (Giants Top 22 Prospect) rough start to his big-league career continued with a horrible misplay on a fly ball off the wall from Bryce Harper that turned into an inside-the-park home run.
Later in the game, Wilmer Flores airmailed a throw to first base, and Blake Sabol took a horrible route on an extra-base hit that probably should have been caught. Then, Hjelle surrendered a monster home run to Kyle Schwarber that gave Philadelphia a 10-2 lead. It was a total collapse from a team that seemed worn down by pressing to try and escape a recent skid.
Phillies reliever Dylan Covey lost the strike zone in the top of the ninth inning, walking or hitting three consecutive Giants after allowing a lead-off single to Wilmer Flores. Sabol worked a full count after one run had already scored and recorded an RBI infield single on a chopper that bounced off the pitcher's glove. With the bases still loaded and nobody out, Phillies manager Rob Thompson pulled Covey for Jeff Hoffman.
Hoffman faced Meckler, who hit a line drive toward right field that turned into a bad luck double play. It was Meckler's first ball in play against a non-fastball since he was called up. Following the double play, J.D. Davis flied out to end the game.
Following one of the SF Giants ugliest losses of the season, they will turn to top pitching prospect Kyle Harrison (Giants Top 4 Prospect) in his big-league debut tomorrow against the Phillies. With San Francisco collapsing in the standings, the pressure is on the top-100 prospect. First pitch at Citizens Bank Park is scheduled for 3:40 PM Pacific.
