San Francisco Giants’ J.D. Davis, right, celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri May 5, 2023 (AP News photo)
Milwaukee (18-14). 200 020 00o. – 4. 7. 1
San Francisco (14-17). 200 030 01x. – 6. 5 2
Time: 2:37
Attendance: 28,614
Friday, May 5, 2023
By Lewis Rubman
SAN FRANCISCO–It’s only early May. so it’s still almost a month before we can start talking about a June swoon, but the season starts 15 days earlier than it did when 16 teams played a 154 game schedule, 22 games against each of the other teams inter league, so it might be worthwhile to pay some attention to the MLB, or at least the NL standings.
The Giants began the day occupying third place in the four team Western Division of the senior circuit, two games ahead of the cellar dwelling entry from the Mile High City. At 13-17, they trail their arch rivals from Los Angeles by five games, against whom they have 10 games left to play, all in LA except for the final three, which will be played at Oracle Park.
So, if the orange and black can put their bullpen in order, tighten up their defense, reverse the aging process of their infielders and speed the development of some of the others, they’ve got a fighting chance to reach the post season. This is especially the case under the recent changes to the playoff format that has made every .500 team a possible World Series Champion. In any case, it’s hard to swoon when you’re already semi prostrate.
San Francisco’s opponent for Friday night the Milwaukee Brewers, brought a 18-13 record, just a game out of first in the NL Central in spite of a four game losing streak that began on April 30. Their starting pitcher, Corbin Burnes, had an unintimidating record 3-1, 4.01 record for the year but was the NL Cy Young winner for 2021 and finished 2022 at 12-8, 2.94.
The 28 year old righty went up against Sean Manaea, a southpaw who pitched excellent ball over six seasons, including a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox, for Oakland before slipping into mediocrity with San Diego last year. He was still trying to rise above that level at game time, weighed down by the burden of an 0-1, 7.85 record.
In the end, the Giants won, a hard fought victory of 6-4.
After waiting out a 34 minute rain delay, Manaea got off to a rocky start. William Contreras whacked his third offering off the right field fence for a lead off double. He could have scored on Owen Miller’s follow up single to center, but the Brewers played it conservatively, and Contreras stopped at third. He waltzed home on a single to right by Willy Adames. Miller went to third and Adames was eliminated when clean up hitter Christian Yellich hit into a 4-6-3 double play.
With two outs, Manaea walked Brian Anderson to a chorus of boos for some pretty questionable calls by home plate umpire Chris Guccione. It still looked as if the Throwin’ Samoan might escape with minimal damage, but sometimes you can’t win for losing. Manaea picked Anderson off first, but Adames scored before the tag that ended the inning was made.
The Giants got both runs back in their half of the initial frame with a lead off walk to LaMonte Wade, Jr. and a splash hit 364 feet into the chilly waters of McCovey Cove, Joc Pederson’s fourth four bagger of the year.
Milwaukee came roaring back with a slam against the right field wall by Luke Voit that only a great throw by Michael Conforto kept from being a double. An error by Thairo Estrada at short on what could have, should have been a twin killing that would have eliminated Voit from the base paths seemed to open the door for a Brewer break through, but Manaea’s change up was working beautifully, and the score remained knotted at two after he fanned Joey Wiener and Contreras.
Things quieted down after that. At least for a while. Back to back singles by Tyrone Taylor and Weiner put two men on and the top of the order coming up with no one out. The Brewers diodn’t need any help from their hitters to break tie. Their two base runners pulled off a double steal, and now there were two men in scoring position.
With Owen Miller at bat, Joey Bart tried to pick Taylor off third. He threw the ball into left field, allowing Taylor to score and Weiner to replace him 90 feet from home. Miller’s sacrifice fly to center brought in the second Brewer run of the inning and fourth of the game.
San Francisco took advantage of Milwaukee’s mistakes in the home fifth. Wisely singled to left center with one out and then pilfered second, his second stolen base of the night and of the season. Adames made a wild throw to first on Cal Stevenson’s grounder to short, allowing both runners to advance.
After Wade took a called third strike, Estrada hit a bouncer to the mound. Burnes slipped trying to field it. It scored a single, and it scored Wisely. Peterson followed with a single to right center and was thr0wn out, 8-5-4 but not before Stevenson and Estrada had crossed the plate.
So it was with a 5-4 advantage that John Brebbia entered the game to relieve Manaea to open thje sixth. Manaea ad thrown one weak and four strong innings, allowing four runs, three of them earned, on six hits and two walks. He struck out six. Of the 91 pitches he threw, 63 counted as strikes.
Brebbia put the brew crew down in order and gave way to Tyler, the submarining Rogers, who did the same in seventh, aided by a spectacular diving catch by Haniger of a dying line drive to left center by Contreras for the last out of the frame. The right handed reliever hung around to to dispose of the Brewers with only a single up the middle in the eighth.
Bryce Wilson took over for Burnes for the home seventh and held the hosts scoreless. Milwaukee’s starter had thrown six innings of four hit ball. Although five runs were scored against him, only two were earned. One of those four hits was a home run. He walked three and struck out five. He threw 94 pitches, 56 strikes.
A pinch hitting Wilmer Flores greeted Hoby Milner, the lefty to whom Milwaukee entrusted the Giants’ eighth. The greeting consisted of a 397 foot blast into the left center field bleachers that gave San Francisco a bit of breathing room. A ground out and a base on balls later, Elvis Peguero was on the mound, facing Bart, whom he fanned. He did the same to Wisely.
It was left to Camilo Duval to try close the book on the Brewers, going for his sixth save in seven opportunities. A slider disposed of Voit for a K. Caratinij grounded out to short. Jessie Winker pinch hit for Taylor. With a full count, he drew a walk, bringing the potential tying run at the plate in the person of another pinch hitter, Rowdy Tellez. Doval served him a slider on a 1-2 count. Tellez swung.
And missed.
Manaea got the win, making him 1-1, 6.94. Doval got the safe, and Burnes took the loss, bringing his record to 3-2, 3.86.
Tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, at 4:15, the two teams will have another go at each other. The probable starters will be two right handers,, Colin Rea (0-2, 4.79) and Alex Cobb (1-2, 2.43) for San Francisco.
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