San Francisco starter Logan Webb deals to the Oakland A’s in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jul 31, 2024 in the second of the brief two game series (AP News photo)

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Oakland Athletics 0 (45-65)

San Francisco Giants 1 (54-56)

Win: Logan Webb (8-8)

Loss: Ross Stripling (2-10)

Time: 1:55

Attendance: 38,668

By Stephen Ruderman

Logan Webb pitched a complete game shutout, as the Giants beat the Oakland A’s by a modest score of 1-0 to salvage a split in this short two-game set. This was Webb’s third complete game and second shutout of the season in Wednesday night’s contest.

After a 5-1 loss to the A’s Wednesday night, the Giants were set to host the A’s and the second and final game of the first leg of the 2024—and possibly final—Bay Bridge Series. This would possibly be the final Bay Bridge Series game ever played at Oracle Park.

Logan Webb had a rough spring training and then got off to a rough start to the regular season. He then got back to his normal self to go to his first all-star game. However, since giving up three runs at the All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas on July 16, he has struggled.

Webb’s struggles appeared to continue into Wednesday night, as the A’s had him on the ropes right away in the top of the first inning. Miguel Andujar and JJ Bleday both singled for Oakland to put runners at the corners with one out.

Webb then settled down. First, he struck Brent Rooker out looking on a beautifully-placed sinker on the outside corner. Then he struck Shea Langeliers looking as well, as Webb got out of the inning unscathed.

Ross Stripling, who pitched for the Giants just last season made the start for Oakland, and he pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the first. Webb followed that up with a 1-2-3 top of the second.

The Giants wasted a leadoff double by Matt Chapman in the bottom of the second, and Webb pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third. LaMonte Wade doubled with two outs in the bottom of the third, but Heliot Ramos grounded out to end the inning.

Logan Webb got out of a jam unscathed in the top of the fourth, and Stripling threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth. Webb then settled down to throw a 1-2-3 top of the fifth.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Mike Yastrzemski hit a high towering drive down the right field line that went just foul and into the water. No problem; he later lined a base-hit to right-center field and advanced to third on a base-hit by Marco Luciano. Brett Wisely then got Yastrzemski in with a sacrifice fly to center for the game’s first run.

Webb remained in complete control, as he pitched a scoreless top of the sixth, and a 1-2-3 top of the seventh. Stripling set down the first two men he faced in the bottom of the sixth, but after he walked Chapman with two outs, he was done. T.J. McFarland struck out Michael Conforto to end the inning.

Michael Otanez pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, and Webb threw a scoreless top of the eighth. Gerardo Reyes walked Wisely to start the bottom of the eighth, but he then retired the side.

Webb was back out for the ninth to try and finish off the shutout. Rooker lined out to Chapman at third base, and Langeliers grounded out to short. Abraham Toro singled to extend the game, and with Giants’ closer Camilo Doval in the bullpen, you couldn’t help but wonder if this would be the end of Webb’s night.

However, Webb had the full confidence of his skipper, Bob Melvin, and Webb got Seth Brown to ground out to second to end it.

It was just a great night for Webb, who gave up five hits; walked just one; and struck out six. He obviously got the win, and Ross Stripling got the loss.

The Giants improve to 54-56 to finish off a 5-1 homestand, and they are four and a half games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who now occupy the third wild card spot in the National League.

The Giants will head back out on the road for three in Cincinnati, and four in Washington, D.C. The Giants will have a day off tomorrow, and then they will open a three-game series in Cincinnati on Friday.

Left-hander Andrew Abbott (9-7, 3.38 ERA) will make the start for Cincinnati on Friday. The Giants will go with Blake Snell (0-3, 5.10 ERA). First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in Cincinnati, 4:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and A’s will open a three game series at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Dodgers has not been announced by manager Dave Roberts and for the A’s RHP Joey Estes (4-4, ERA 4.92) gets the start with a 6:40pm PT first pitch.

Giants News and Notes:

Bob Melvin won his 1,571st game as a major league manager to tie him with Hall-of-Fame manager Dick Wiiliams for 24th all-time. Melvin has the second-most wins of active managers, trailing former Giants Manager Bruce Bochy, who has 2,145 wins.

Brandon Belt was at the game Wednesday night. Belt played with the Giants from 2011 to 2022, and made an indelible mark on this city and team. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays last season, but he has remained unsigned this season.

Before the game, the Giants had their annual Until There’s A Cure Night, and had a small ceremony on the field prior to the game. Wednesday night was the 30th anniversary of the first-ever Until There’s A Cure Day at Candlestick Park. The Giants will continue to work with Until There’s A Cure, as they attempt to find a cure for HIV/AIDS.