San Francisco Giants’ Michael Conforto hits a three-run home run during the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon May 15, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO–In front of 23,819 baseball fans, the Philadelphia Phillies (20-21) played the San Francisco Giants (18-23) for the first game of this three game series. On the hill was Alex Wood (SF) and Conor Brogdon (PHI) and it wasn’t long before the bats came alive for both teams. The Giants didn’t waste anytime getting run support scoring six runs in the bottom of the second inning at Oracle Park for a 6-3 win over the Phils.

It was a heavy load of offense that came and went like a shooting star. In the first inning both teams combined for three hits, but no runs were scored. The second inning was where everything came alive. It started with the Phillies getting two runs off an Alec Bohm home run which scored Kyle Schwarber.

The park was’nt too happy about this, but they knew it was still an early game with a whole lot of baseball left and when it was Giants turn at bat, the orange and black didn’t disappoint. Casey Schmitt who came into this game hitting .458 started the rally off with a single and even though he’d come out due to Joey Bart’s fielder’s choice, there was no looking back for San Francisco.

Bryce Johnson would hit a single that brought in Bart 2-1 Phillies. After an error got Thairo Estrada on base, Michael Conforto would hit a huge three run home run to give the Giants the lead 4-2 and the bleeding wouldn’t stop there. A J.D. Davis double, Mitch Haniger single (which brought in Davis), and Brandon Crawford single (which brought in Haniger) made the game 6-2 and Oracle Park was louder than a Bad Bunny concert.

Even though it was early, the win probability was high for the Giants, but the question in the park was can the bullpen hold this together for another seven innings. The answer to that question was yes, but it wasn’t without a little drama. Jacob Junis would replace Wood after four innings and would only give an inning after giving up a run making the game 6-3.

Scott Alexander would come out of the bullpen and pitch one inning, but gave up no hits, so he did his job. In the eighth inning the Giants brought in Taylor Rogers and even though he secured two outs, Giants manager Gabe Kapler took him out and put in closer Camilo Doval to finish it off and he did close the door in the 9th inning it was a 1-2-3 quick getaway. The highlight was a beautiful Sportscenter top ten catch from J.D. Davis at third and after Lamonte Wade Jr. catches a foul ball at first, which ended the game. Giants win and Alex Wood leaves with the W.

Tuesday’s game of the series will see Zack Wheeler (3-2, 3.80 ERA) for the Phillies and Alex Cobb (3-1,1.70 ERA) for the Giants on the hill with a 6:40pm PT first pitch. SRS reporters Lewis Rubman will have the game recap and Tony the Tiger Hayes will have a “He was a Giant” feature.