San Francisco Giants’ LaMonte Wade Jr., right, celebrates with Michael Conforto after scoring against the Miami Marlins on J.D. Davis’ sacrifice fly during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 19, 2023. (AP News photo)
Miami (23-22). 000 002 010. – 3. 6. 1
San Francisco (21-23). 000 103 00x. – 4. 5. 0
Time: 2:24
Attendance: 30,673
Friday, May 19, 2023
By Lewis Rubman
SAN FRANCISCO–Before tonight’s game against the Miami Marlins began, the Giants announced a bunch of roster moves. They selected two players from their AAA Sacramento River Cats farm team, the widely heralded catcher Patrick Bailey and right handed pitcher Ryan Walker.
They also recalled Héliot Ramos from the River Cats, but only to put him on the 60 day injured list. Joey Bart also went on the IL, for 10 days, retroactive to yesterday, and last Wednesday’s starting pitcher, Ross Stripling joined him on the list, for 15 days, also retroactive to yesterday, the 18th. Outfielder Cal Stevenson was designated for assignment.
When the game ended, San Francisco had extended it winnning streak to four, squeaking past the Marlin, 4-3.
The Giants’ starter, Anthony DeScalfani (3-3,3.06 at game time), is no stranger to roster moves. He spent his first big league season with the fish, for whom he went 2-2, 6.27 in 2014. After that, he spent five years with Cincinnati, before coming to San Francisco for the miraculous 2021 season, when he went 13-7, 3.17. His lifetime record in the show was 53-51, 4.06 when he took the mound.
DeScalfani’s opposite number for the Marlins also has had his ups and downs. Sandy Alcántara began last year poorly but ended up winning the Cy Young Award for the National League. He came to town at 1-4, 4.91 for ’23. Lifetime he was 35-47, 3.23; 1-2, 2.43 against the Giants.
The Giants couldn’t get a hit off Alcántara for 3-2/3 frames, when Michael Conforto hit a weak ground to third for a single. Mitch Haniger promptly followed with a line drive that landed at the foot of the National Car rental sign in left center. for a double that brought Conforto home in a close play at the plate. The inning ended with the Giants up, 1-0, because, although DeScalfani had yielded a pair of hits, both the Luis Arraez, he hadn’t let any runner to advance beyond third.
Arraez made it 3 for 3 with double to left that sent Jorge Soler, who had led off the top of the sixth with a walk, to third . Bryan DeLa Cruz sent a dull line drive that split the distance between Yastrzemski in center and Comforto in right, for a two bagger that brought in both runners, put Miami ahead, 2-1, and drove DeScalfani from the mound, replaced by Scott Alexander.
Alexander walked Joey Peyton. Burdick flew out to the warning track in right, advancing both runners 90 feet. He escaped the inning by getting Jacob Stallings to ground out to Crawford.
De Scalfani had lasted 5-1/3 innings and surrendered five hits and two walks. Both. of the. runs he allowed were earned; one was posthumous. He threw 84 pitches, 55 for strikes, while his ERA creeped up almost imperceptibly to 3.09. He escaped with a no decision.
The Giants responded in their half of the sixth with a walk to Wade. Estrada then hit a grounder back to Alcántara. Not only did the Giants’ second sacker beat the throw to first, but he advanced to second–and Wade to third–when Alcántara’s wild throw got past first baseman Garrett Cooper.
Sacrifice flies by Davis and Conforto put the home team ahead, 3-2. Yastrzemski drew a walk, and Casey Schmitt drove Alcántara’s 100th offering just out of Wendle’s reach at short and into left field for an RBI single. And so ended Alacántara’s night. After 5-2/3 innings, he had yielded four runs, all earned, on five hits and three walks. He struck out five. 34% of his pitches were balls. He was tagged with the loss, giving him a record of 1-5, 5.05.
Southpaw Andrew Nardi came in from the bullpen to reieve Alcántara and fanned Wilmer Flores, who pinch hit for Sabol, to halt the Giants’ attack.
Patrick Baily made his big league debut, replacing Flores in the top of the seventh. HIs battery mate was John Brebbia. Bryan Heoing replaced Nardi on the mound for Miami with no one on and two out in the bottom of the seventh.
Taylor Rogers (the left handed brother) had the top of the eighth all but sewn up, but De La Cruz drove a two out, 3-2 sweeper into the left center field bleachers for fifth home run of the season, shortening San Francisco’s lead to 4-3. His submarining right handed brother, Tyler ,relieved him and pitched to pinch hitter Jon Berti, who popped out to second.
Once more there was a brouhaha over a ball call. This time it was on Davis’s lead off walk in the bottom of the eighth when catcher Jacob Stallings requested time and home plate ump Marvin Hudson didn’t grant it, although he made some sort of gesture. The argument ended in the ejection of Stallings and Miami skipper, Skip Schumaker.
Tyler Rogers remained in the game to pitch the top of the ninth. He put the fish down in. order, earning his second save of the year in the process.
Scott Alexander got the win. He’s now 4-0, 4.96.
At 1:05 tomorrow, Saturday afternoon, Braxton Garrett (1-2, 5.20) will face the Giants for Miami. Logan Webb (3-5, 3.20) will toe the rubber for San Francisco.
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