SF Giants ride Anthony DeSclafani's gem to 2-0 win over Astros

The SF Giants had no trouble getting runners on base against the Houston Astros, and massive trouble getting them home. Luckily, Anthony DeSclafani barely gave up any runners himself, throwing eight three-hit, shutout innings to lead the Giants to a 2-0 win in Houston.

DeSclafani ran his record to 3-1, while Camilo Doval picked up his fourth save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, striking out Yordan Álvarez to end the game.

It was a strong night for DeSclafani, on a night where broadcaster Dave Flemming commented that, "Tonight, you would not say this is his best stuff - and yet against a really good team, it's 2-0 in the fifth inning."

It was also 2-0 in the ninth inning, after DeSclafani pitched out of a rare threatening situation. Houston catcher Yainer Diaz got an infield single, and reached second on DeSclafini's error. But DeSclafini got Jake Meyers to ground out and escaped.

Diaz had a nice game, throwing out two base stealers and doubling with one out in the third. But DeSclafani stranded him at third, just like he stranded Álvarez at second after his seventh-inning double, inducing dangerous-looking - but harmless - fly balls from Jose Abreu and Kyle Tucker.

The Giants got the scoring started early against rookie starter Hunter Brown, manufacturing a run on a Thairo Estrada infield single, a stolen base, and a Joc Pederson RBI bloop single. Exit velocity isn't everything, kids!

Joc bloops in a run 💪 pic.twitter.com/yPebphUxoX
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 3, 2023

SF got another run when Brown lost the ability to locate the ball in a 31-pitch 4th inning. After Estrada singled and was erased on a caught stealing, Brown walked Pederson and Michael Conforto back-to-back, setting up a Blake Sabol laser double off the Crawford Boxes in left field.

Extra bases for Blake ✌️ pic.twitter.com/duzYVMPxzw
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 3, 2023

The Giants knocked Brown out of the game with two more walks in the fifth. After Conforto's infield hit loaded the bases, the Giants left the bases loaded when Flores grounded out.

They left ten runners on base overall, leaving the bases loaded in the ninth as well. Add two caught stealings, and that's how you turn 16 baserunners into only two runs.

After a controversial back-and-forth between Mauricio Dubón and Gabe Kapler this week, Dubon had a quiet night at the plate. But he had a harrowing defensive play where he clobbered Brett Wisely while covering first on a bunt. It looked unfortunate, unless Dubon resents Wisely for being another second baseman that Farhan Zaidi converted to center field.

Brett Wisely and Mauricio Dubón just collided at first base. Looked like a freaking football play. Wisely was out.
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) May 3, 2023

Cal Stevenson joined the SF Giants' plethora of Bay Area native outfielders, starting in center field in his season debut. The product of John F. Kennedy High in Fremont drew two walks and played solid defense.