The Diamondbacks entered this game coming off of a close loss to the Giants where they were near a comeback. The Giants entered this game riding a 3 game win streak. This was the final game of a short 2 game series against the D-Backs and if the Giants won they would get the sweep. The Giants would attempt to do that with LaMonte Wade Jr. (RF) hitting leadoff, Kris Bryant (3B) hitting 2nd, the red hot Brandon Belt (1B) hitting 3rd, Buster Posey (C) hitting cleanup, Brandon Crawford (SS) hitting 5th, Darin Ruf (LF) hitting 6th, Mike Yastrzemski (RF) hitting 7th, Wilmer Flores (2B) hitting 8th, and Kevin Gausman (P) hitting 9th. This was Gausman’s first start since welcoming a baby girl into the world. The Diamondbacks lineup had Josh VanMeter (2B) hitting leadoff, Ketel Marte (CF) hitting 2nd, Asdrubal Cabrera (3B) hitting 3rd, Kole Calhoun (RF) hitting cleanup, Pavin Smith (1B) hitting 5th, David Peralta (LF) hitting 6th, Daulton Varsho (C) hitting 7th, Nick Ahmed (SS) hitting 8th, and finally, Merrill Kelly hitting last. The pitching matchup was between one of the best pitchers in baseball in Kevin Gausman who entered this game 10-5 with a 2.31 ERA and an average pitcher in Merrill Kelly who was 7-8 with a 4.13 ERA. For the Diamondbacks to win they needed to get Gausman out early, keep the Giants in the ballpark, and find great pitching out of their bullpen. For the Giants to win they needed to get ahead early and find a nice start out of Kevin Gausman. Would the Giants sweep the 2 game series or would the Diamondbacks steal a game? To the game!
The first pitch of the game was a ball to Josh VanMeter. VanMeter ended up striking out swinging. Then Ketel Marte struck out swinging. To end the 1st half inning of the game Asdrubal Cabrera struck out looking. Merrill Kelly’s first pitch was fouled off by LaMonte Wade Jr. who ended up singling to center field. Then Kris Bryant hit into a fielder’s choice on a high pop up to shallow left field which dropped due to the wind but LaMonte Wade Jr. got out at 2nd because he was trying not to get doubled up but when the ball dropped he didn’t have enough time to get to 2nd. After that Brandon Belt struck out looking on 6 pitches. Next Buster Posey singled to center field advancing Bryant to 2nd. Brandon Crawford then doubled down the right field line scoring Bryant and advancing Posey to 3rd. To end the Darin Ruf struck out swinging. This was a great 1st inning for the Giants as they took an early lead. The Giants led 1-0 after the 1st inning.
To leadoff the 2nd inning Kole Calhoun walked. Then Pavin Smith doubled on a very soft ground ball down the left field line. Kole Calhoun advanced to 3rd on the play but injured himself while sliding into 3rd. Drew Ellis pinch ran for Kole Calhoun because of his injury. After that David Peralta grounded out to Brandon Crawford scoring Ellis and advancing Smith to 3rd. Next Daulton Varsho flew out to Darin Ruf who made a great sliding play in left. Nick Ahmed was intentionally walked. To end the inning Merrill Kelly struck out swinging. Drew Ellis remained in the game at 1st base forcing Asdrubal Cabrera to move to 1st base and Pavin Smith to move to right field. To start the bottom of the 2nd Mike Yastrzemski walked after being down 0-2. Then Wilmer Flores doubled down the right field line letting Mike Yastrzemski advance to 3rd. After that Kevin Gausman singled up the middle scoring Yastrzemski and advancing Flores to 3rd. To follow that up LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a grounder to Asdrubal Cabrera who stepped on the bag and threw Wilmer Flores out at the plate. To end the inning Kris Bryant struck out swinging. This was a nice inning for both offenses as they were each able to score a run. The Giants led 2-1 after the 2nd inning.
To leadoff the 3rd inning Josh VanMeter grounded out to Wilmer Flores. Then Ketel Marte hit a shrieking line drive to Brandon Belt which was caught for an out. To end the top of the 3rd Asdrubal Cabrera grounded out to Kris Bryant. To leadoff the bottom of the 3rd Brandon Belt grounded out to Asdrubal Cabrera. Then Buster Posey hit a solo home run to right field. To follow that up Brandon Crawford singled to left field. After that Darin Ruf grounded into a fielder’s choice. To end the inning Mike Yastrzemski lined out to Asdrubal Cabrera. This was another great inning for the Giants as they tacked onto their lead with a Buster Posey home run and Kevin Gausman had a 1, 2, 3 inning. The Giants led 3-1 after the 3rd inning.
To leadoff the 4th inning Drew Ellis walked. Then Pavin Smith grounded into a fielder’s choice that would’ve been a double play if Kevin Gausman had caught the ball at 1st. After that David Peralta reached base on an error by Brandon Belt leaving runners on 1st and 2nd. Daulton Varsho then singled to center scoring Smith and advancing Peralta to 3rd and Nick Ahmed walked loading the bases. To end the Diamondbacks half of the inning Merrill Kelly grounded into a double play. To start the Giants half of the inning Wilmer Flores lined out to David Peralta. Then Kevin Gausman singled to right field. After that LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a 2 run homer to center field that tipped off of Ketel Marte’s mitt. To follow that up Kris Bryant singled on a blooper to right center field. To end the inning Brandon Belt grounded into a double play. This was a nice inning for the Giants as they tacked onto their lead despite giving up a run. The Giants led 5-2 after the 4th inning.
To start the 5th inning Josh VanMeter and Ketel Marte scored leaving runners on 1st and 2nd. Then Asdrubal Cabrera grounded out to Brandon Crawford advancing the runners to 2nd and 3rd. After that Drew Ellis struck out swinging on 3 pitches. To end the inning Pavin Smith lined out to Mike Yastrzemski. To start the bottom of the 5th Buster Posey popped out to Asdrubal Cabrera in foul territory. Then Brandon Crawford grounded out to Josh VanMeter. After that Darin Ruf singled to center field. To end the inning Mike Yastrzemski flew out to Pavin Smith. This was a nice inning for both pitchers each putting up a shutout inning. The Giants still led 5-2 after the 5th inning.
José Álvarez entered the game for Kevin Gausman to pitch the 6th inning. To start the inning off David Peralta grounded out to Brandon Crawford. Then Daulton Varsho hit a swinging bunt which was picked up by Buster Posey and thrown to 1st for an out. To end the inning Nick Ahmed grounded out to José Álvarez. Jake Faria took place for Merrill Kelly to pitch the bottom of the 6th. To start the bottom of the 6th Wilmer Flores grounded out to Asdrubal Cabrera. Then Tommy La Stella pinch hit for José Álvarez and singled to right field. After that LaMonte Wade Jr, struck out swinging. To end the inning Kris Bryant flew out to Ketel Marte on the left center field warning track. This was a great inning for both relievers giving up just a single combined. The Giants once again led 5-2 after the 6th inning.
Dominic Leone came into the game for José Álvarez to pitch the 7th inning. To leadoff the 7th inning Josh Rojas pinch hit for Jake Faria and lined out to Darin Ruf. Then Josh VanMeter walked. After that Ketel Marte singled to center field advancing VanMeter to 2nd. Next Asdrubal Cabrera struck out swinging. To end the half inning Drew Ellis flew out to Darin Ruf. Josh Rojas remained in the game in right field forcing Pavin Smith to move back to 1st base and Asdrubal Cabrera to move back to 3rd base. Brett de Geus replaced Jake Faria to pitch the bottom of the 7th. To leadoff the bottom of the 7th inning Brandon Belt flew out to David Peralta. Then Buster Posey grounded out to Nick Ahmed. After that Brandon Crawford hit a solo home run to left center field. To end the inning Darin Ruf lined out to David Peralta. This was another amazing inning for the Giants as the further added onto their lead. The Giants led 6-2 after the 7th inning.
Austin Slater replaced Darin Ruf in center field forcing Mike Yastrzemski to move to right field and LaMonte Wade Jr. to move to left field. Tony Watson relieved Dominic Leone to pitch the 6th inning. To leadoff the 8th inning Pavin Smith grounded out to Brandon Crawford. Then Carson Kelly pinch hit for David Peralta and flew out to Mike Yastrzemski. After that Christian Walker pinch hit for Daulton Varsho and doubled. To end the half inning Nick Ahmed flew out to LaMonte Wade Jr. in left field. Carson Kelly remained in the game as the catcher and Christian Walker remained in the game at 1st base forcing Pavin Smith to move to left field. Tyler Clippard came into the game in relief of Brett de Geus to pitch the bottom of the 8th. To leadoff the bottom of the 8th inning Mike Yastrzemski lined out to Pavin Smith. Then Wilmer Flores flew out to Josh Rojas. After that Alex Dickerson pinch hit for Tony Watson and hit the 90th ever splash hit on a solo home run. To end the inning LaMonte Wade Jr. struck out looking on 6 pitches. This was one more inning to add onto the list of great ones in this game as Alex Dickerson hit a pinch hit splash hit. The Giants led 7-2 after the 8th inning.
Thairo Estrada replaced Wilmer Flores at 2nd base. Jarlín García went into the game for Tony Watson to close the game and get the Giants the win. To start the 9th inning Josh Rojas struck out swinging. Then Josh VanMeter lined out to LaMonte Wade Jr. in left field. To end the game Ketel Marte struck out looking. The Giants won 7-2.
Leo’s Extra Inning: It was nice to get the win but since the Dodgers won as well it didn’t put them any further ahead in the standings. This was a great win for the Giants with 4 home runs and 3 of them being solo shots. The home run ball was huge in this game as Posey, Crawford, Wade Jr., and Dickerson each cranked out one. Kevin Gausman also hit well going 2 for 2 with a run scored and an RBI. Gausman didn’t just hit well, he pitched well too giving up only 5 hits, 1 unearned run, 1 earned run, 4 walks, and 0 home runs in 5 innings. Gausman also recorded 5 strikeouts and got the win. The Giants bullpen was on point in this game as well with 4 pitchers pitching an inning each and giving up a combined 2 hits, 0 runs, and a walk. José Álvarez got 0 strikeouts but got a hold in this game, Dominic Leone recorded a strikeout and got a hold, Tony Watson had 0 strikeouts and got no decision, and Jarlín García struck out 2 and got no decision. The Diamondbacks were led by Daulton Varsho in this game going 1 for 3 with an RBI. Ketel Marte had a nice game as well going 2 for 5. Merrill Kelly did not pitch well in this game giving up 11 hits, 5 earned runs, 1 walk, and 2 home runs in just 5 innings. Kelly also recorded 3 strikeouts and got the loss. The Diamondbacks bullpen didn’t pitch well either with 3 pitchers pitching an inning each and giving up a combined 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, and 2 home runs. Both Jake Faria and Tyler Clippard recorded 1 strikeout and got no decision and Brett de Geus got 0 strikeouts and no decision. Overall, this was another great win for the Giants powered by 4 home runs.
Out of LF 
Great game and terrific recap. Thanks a lot. I only got to see the last inning and a half.
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