Gott is Hot: Giants reliever trending with the fantasy baseball crowd

By Morris Phillips

During six minor league seasons, the Giants’ Trevor Gott criss-crossed the U.S. similar to a well-known Johnny Cash song.

I’ve been to Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika
Schefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica
Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport
Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond du Lac, Davenport
Idaho, Jellico, Argentina, Diamantina
Pasadena, Catalina, see what I mean’a
I’ve been everywhere, man

Gott left the University of Kentucky after three seasons when he was selected in the sixth round of 2013 Major League Baseball Draft. That started a nomadic existence in which he pitched for nine minor league teams, including three stints in Syracuse and two with Arkansas. Each of Gott’s assignments to Syracuse followed a demotion from the Washington Nationals, one of his three major league stops that began with the Angels in 2015, then onto D.C. and the Giants in 2019. Groomed as a closer initially, the 5’10” Gott settled into a role as a setup man before his first big league promotion by Los Angeles.

With an effective fastball, but no established secondary pitch, Gott never stuck in one place or with one organization. But the Giants kept him on the big league roster for the entire season in 2019, and he rewarded them with 57 strikeouts over 52 innings in 50 appearances and 7-0 record.

Gott figured to earn some, not a bunch, of high leverage assignments in Gabe Kapler’s unheralded bullpen this season, but twice over the weekend, Kapler bypassed Tony Watson, and brought in Gott, who surprised with back-to-back saves against the powerful Dodgers.

Will Smith led off the ninth with a home run off Gott on Saturday to bring the Dodgers within one run, but the 27-year old rebounded, retiring Max Muncy, Mookie Betts and Clay Bellinger in a row for his second, big league save.

“I thought our bullpen did a nice job of holding it together under some tough conditions. In particular, Gotter did a nice job,” Kapler said of the season’s first victory.

Gott came right back Sunday night and finished off the Dodgers again, this time in a 3-1 win, and as the final piece of 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief by the Giants’ pen. Six relievers had a piece in it, but only Gott retired Smith, Betts and Muncy consecutively after he allowed a leadoff double to A.J. Pollock.

The saves caught the attention of the fantasy baseball crowd, who were more than eager to add a pitcher racking up the saves who was on only 10 percent of fantasy rosters coming into the weekend.

For Gott, he’s just taking it in stride, given all the stops and starts in his career, and Kapler’s refusal to define roles at this early juncture of the season.

“I’m really, really happy I got the opportunity, but we’ve got a lot of good, young arms down there,” Gott said. “I think these past two games you all have seen that. That’s a good lineup over there, and I think the past two games we showed that we have arms that are going to be able to compete.”

Gott’s storyline is pretty defined: his fastball that’s electric and darts away from lefties is his only dependable pitch. His curveball has always been below major league standards so much so that he’s scrapped it at times for a changeup that wasn’t more than 8 mph slower than his mid-90’s heater. But this season, he’s been a problem by reinventing the curveball, and getting it across the plate at 80 to 83 mph, which is the desirable 10 mph slower than his fastball.

So far hitters can’t sit on his fastball when the curve is putting them behind in the count. Now the question is, can he keep it up?

NOTES: Jeff Samardzija has been named the starter for Tuesday’s home opener against the Padres, with Johnny Cueto to follow Wednesday.  This halts Kapler’s pattern of not unveiling his starting pitcher until just before game time after just four games. While the strategy likely kept the Dodgers off balance, it could also be disconcerting to the Giants’ staff, who are conditioned to preparing days in advance.

 

 

 

 

A’s blank Angels 3-0 take three out four from LA

Oakland A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) who started and threw for five innings was one of six pitchers who combined in a nine hit shutout of the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday afternoon (athleticsnation.com)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland- The Oakland A’s beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 to take three out four to start the 2020 season with a 3-1 record. The Angels had Albert Pujols back in the lineup after giving him the day off on Sunday.

Also back in the lineup was Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani, who pitched yesterday, was the designated hitter. Ohtani typically has the day off after throwing. He did not get out of the first inning and did not retire a hitter.

The A’s sent righty Chriss Bassitt to the hill to face the Angels. Bassitt was making his first start of the year. The Angels countered with Griffin Canning. Bassitt had his work cut out for him.

The A’s pitchers have to work hard to retire the Angels hitters. The Angels lineup with David Fletcher, Mike Trout, Justin Upton, Ohtani, and Tommy LaStella can make life rough for any pitcher. A’s manager Bob Melvin had a 70 pitch limit for Bassitt on Monday. Bassitt threw a lot of pitches in the first and second innings and left the game after four innings of work.

The A’s drew first blood in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, second baseman Tony Kemp walked. Marcus Semien beat the shift as he singled to right-center to send Kemp to third. Ramon Laureano hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Kemp with the first run of the game. Semien tagged up and advanced to second on the play. A’s third baseman Matt Chapman doubled to deep centerfield to drive in Semien with the inning’s second run. The A’s lead 2-0 after three complete.

In the top of the fourth, the Angels blew an excellent opportunity to get on the board and possibly tie the game. Justin Upton led off the frame with a single. Tommy LaStella, who loves to hit against the A’s, doubled to send Upton to third.

The next hitter, future Hall of Famer, Albert Pujols hit a rocket to third baseman Matt Chapman. Chappie, sure-handed as ever, picked up the ball, and his throw home got Upton trapped in a rundown. A’s catcher Sean Murphy tagged Upton for the out.

LaStella could not advance to third on the play. Angels’ catcher Jason Castro singled to load the bases with one out. Bassitt got out of the inning when he got Andrelto Simmons to ground out into a 1-2-3 double play. The A’s bullpen did their job and held the Angels scoreless the rest of the way.

Mark Canha led off the bottom of the fourth with his first home run of the year to make it 3-0. That ended the scoring for the A’s. The Angels threatened in the ninth as they had two men on with two out. A’s reliever, Joakim Soria, had to face the American League MVP Mike Trout. Trout could tie the game with one swing of the bat.

Soria struck him out looking. Trout argued the call but to no avail. The A’s win 3-0. Game Notes- The A’s bullpen continued their outstanding work again on Monday. In four games, they have given up just one run.

The A’s used five relievers. Burch Smith, who took over for Bassitt in the fifth, worked two innings and received credit for his second win. T.J.McFarland, Yusmeiro Petit, Jake Diekman, and Soria all saw action.

A’s manager Bob Melvin said the play that changed the game’s momentum was Chapman’s throw to nail Upton. it was a “big swing.” Melvin said this about Chris Bassitt: “we feel good when he’s on the mound.”

The big news around baseball was the story about the 14 people in the Miami Marlin organization that became infected with Covid-19. So far, 11 players and three other personnel contracted the disease.

The Marlins tested the players after yesterday’s game with the Phillies, and results are expected back today. The Marlins’ games with the Baltimore Orioles have been postponed. The Phillies and Yankees games were also postponed. Melvin’s comment about the outbreak was succinct: “it worries you.” The A’s host the Colorado Rockies Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum. Game time will be at 6:40 pm.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Between Covid and Kneeling, Season might Not go Far

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly takes in the ball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Ballpark on Sat Jul 25th as his team’s game has been canceled on Monday Jul 27th due to a Covid-19 outbreak (AP photo)

Between Covid and Kneeling, Season might Not go Far

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Fourteen players from the Miami Marlins (as of today) have tested positive, prompting the cancellation of their home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. This was after the Marlins completed a series in Philadelphia as seven players and two coaches tested positive for corona virus. MLB said the games were postponed while the league conducts more testing.

According to the Washington Times there are also calls to boycott Major League Baseball after photos of players kneeling prior to games. The hashtag #BoycottMLB trended on Twitter as some commentators on social-media accused the league of showing a lack of respect for the military, which the league denied. “It has never been about the military or the flag,” the MLB tweeted. “The players and coaches are using their platforms to peacefully protest.” Nevertheless, the kneeling continues to be very controversial across the country. Most people continue to look at sports as the “only” escape left.

Florida is right now the “hot spot” for corona virus. There are two teams that play there, the Miami Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays, but these two teams are scheduled to play during this abbreviated season with the rest of the east coast teams. That is a situation that is developing and Major League Baseball is following very carefully.

As somebody that just ended broadcasting three games of the Angels vs. Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum, I would say from firsthand experience the A’S have taken all the necessary precautions at the Oakland Coliseum for the skeleton crew of employees during these games including a handful of us doing radio and television. I have to confess it is an eerie feeling, broadcasting at an empty Major League park the size of the Oakland Coliseum, almost like a surreal experience. From a level that regularly is frequented by a lot of media people, and now it is just a few.

The 60-game season is now for the first time since it began in jeopardy, a combination of factors in the most complex world we are living today. Although some national televised games have shown excellent ratings, After all, MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL can make any schedule they want send any directives they want, but the real wild card continues to be Covid-19. Because Covid-19 has their own scheduled, but the big difference is that their schedule is a mystery.

“Choose to be optimistic, it feels better” – Dalai Lama

Stay well and stay tuned.

Athletics Radio. KIQI 1010AM/990AM Spanish radio(Bay Area and Sacramento)is scheduled to carry tomorrow’s game when the Colorado Rockies visit the Oakland Coliseum, pregame 6:30, first pitch 6:40PM.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Wotus “class act” toasts manager and coaches after Giants first victory on Saturday

San Francisco Giants left fielder Austin Slater makes a catch on a ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 25, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

On the Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that Ron Wotus offered a toast with a bottle of wine after Saturday’s first Giants win of the season 5-4 over the Dodgers in the video room at Dodger Stadium saying Wotus is a class act.

#2 The Giants bullpen nearly fell apart in the late innings trying to keep the Dodgers hitters off balance but were able to get the outs and bail out and hold a lead.

#3 The Giants took game four on Sunday 3-1 to get a split against the Dodgers one of the toughest teams on the MLB docket. The Giants got a key home run from Mauricio Dubon to help launch the win.

#4 Left fielder Austin Slater on Saturday made a spectacular sixth inning catch not before he hit his hip into the outfield wall and sat and rested on Sunday.

#5 Morris talk about Kapler’s gamesmanship by not announcing the starting pitcher until the beginning of each game. Not even the pitcher of record has any idea who will be the starter before each game.

Join Morris each Monday for the Giants podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

MLB podcast with Larry Crino: With 14 Marlin players positive for Covid will MLB shut season down? plus more

(AP photo) Miami Marlins pitcher Robert Duggar (center), pitching coach Mel Stottlemeyre Jr (left) and catcher Francisco Cevelli (right) talk it over during their game at Citizens Bank Ball park in Philadelphia.  While the Marlins were completing their first series it might be their last one as 14 players and two coaches have come up positive with Covid-19 and cannot not leave Philadelphia and will quarantine in their hotel rooms. The Cincinnati Reds also have reported a Covid-19 outbreak.

On the MLB with Larry Crino:

#1 Larry how will the impact of up to 14 players and two coaches on the Miami Marlins coming up positive for Coivd-19 have on MLB and will other teams who are scheduled to play the Marlins have to scramble and should MLB come to the realization that canceling the season is the practical thing to do.

#2 Larry the Los Angeles Dodgers opened their first two games of the season with games that were not even close with 8-1 and 9-1 then unexpectedly the San Francisco Giants got some pitching help in the next two games winning 5-4 and 3-1 for a split.

#3 The Dodgers Max Muncy hit for two home runs on Thursday and absolutely saw everything that the Giants threw him.

#4 At Fenway Park in Boston fans are saying the streets around Fenway are quieter than they can ever remember, no more people out on the streets before or even after ball games ordering food, drinks or soft ice cream cones it’s very unusual for Sox fans to see such an empty place.

#5 How important now is it that the San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler set the tone on Monday night during the Giants exhibition game against the Oakland A’s with most of the teams taking a knee during the national anthem. Now other MLB teams have followed pursuit and are taking a knee during the anthem.

Join Larry Crino each Monday for the MLB podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Dubon with big hit gives Giants the win 3-1

San Francisco Giants Mauricio Dubon takes Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Donovan Solano deep for his first homer of the season to help pace the Giants past the Dodgers to force a split going away from Dodger Stadium (NBC Sports photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

After getting shellacked in the first two games of the season, the San Francisco Giants came back to split the series.

Mauricio Dubon singled in the top of the sixth inning to score Donovan Solano, helping the Giants to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Solano led off the inning with a single off of eventual losing pitcher Brusdar Graterol, then Pablo Sandoval singled Solano to second base.

Adam Kolarek came on to replace Graterol and immediately retired Brandon Crawford for the second out of the inning; however, Dubon then gave the Giants lead for good, as he singled to left field in front of Chris Taylor.

Darin Ruf gave the Giants the lead in the top of the third inning, as he singled to left field to score Dubon from second base.

Once again, like on Saturday afternoon, the Giants immediately gave up the lead and the Dodgers tied it up, when Cody Bellinger singled to right field to score Mookie Betts.

Solano gave the Giants an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, as he singled to left field to score Ruf.

Seven different Giants pitchers combined on a seven-hitter, as the Giants split the four-game series in Los Angeles.

Drew Smyly got the start for the Giants, as he went 3.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking one and striking out two.

After Smyly, six relievers gave up only three hits, walked two and struck out six, Shawn Anderson went one inning, walking one and struck out two.

Wandy Peralta pitched one strong inning, as he struck out one in his lone inning of work, as he won for the first time this season.

Sam Coonrod, Tyler Rogers and Trevor Gott pitched the final three innings with Gott picking up his second save in as many days, despite allowing a lead-off double to Will Smith; however, Gott was able to get AJ Pollock to fly out to Mike Yastrzemski and then Betts lined out to Dubon and then Gott struck out Max Muncy swinging to end the game.

UP NEXT: After a quick four-game road trip to Los Angeles, the Giants will be off on Monday before opening the 2020 home slate on Tuesday night against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park.

The O in Ohtani stands for zero outs in A’s 6-4 win over the Angels

By Morris Phillips

Major League Baseball has quite a bit of anonymity running through it these days, so here goes in recapping the Angels and A’s on Sunday:

The biggest name came up a little bit short, the most transcendent name didn’t last long, and the newest name went the furthest in the A’s 6-4 win at the Coliseum.

The A’s took full advantage of Shohei Ohtani’s unraveled return to the mound, striking for five runs out the gate before the two-way star was removed without recording an out. But the A’s were stymied by starter-turned-reliever Matt Andriese (5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief) and superstar Mike Trout (4 RBI) which turned a rout into a tense game in the fifth.

We pause at this point to examine how Ohtani’s 11th major league start–and his first since Tommy John surgery in 2018–became his worst, and how Trout came tantalizing close to rescuing his teammate with a second, three-run homer in the game’s first five innings.

Ohtani, the singular big league talent who combines a home run swing with a nasty, mid 90’s fastball-slider combo wiped out the A’s in his second big league start, a 12-strikeout masterpiece littered with unhittable sliders in April 2018 at the Coliseum.  Despite being used conservatively by the Angels, as an occasional DH and having a no less than a full week between starts, Ohtani experienced arm discomfort that truncated his rookie season as a pitcher.  He kept hitting that season before having the surgery in the off-season, then missing all of 2019 as a pitcher, while continuing his designated hitter duties.

Ohtani’s summer camp procceded naturally–and trouble free–a ramp up of velocity and length over three appearances. He appeared ready to pitch effectively on Sunday, his first start for new manager Joe Maddon.

Marcus Semien, with just one hit in his first eight at-bats, took Ohtani back up the middle for a leadoff single. The next three batters all walked as Ohtani took deep breaths on the mound and looked less than comfortable. Singles by Mark Canha and Robbie Grossman increased the A’s lead to 4-0, and forced Maddon’s hand after the Japanese star faced just six batters.

“He just didn’t throw the ball very well,” Maddon said. “I can’t sit here making excuses for him. I’m not going to do that. It just wasn’t his day. The fastball wasn’t coming out, there was no deception in his pitches.”

Tellingly, Ohtani hit 94 mph as high–slightly off the 96 mph he regularly hit in 2018–and threw just two sliders. No doubt, healthy, but tentative, not surprising given his injury and infrequent pitching assignments going back over three years now.

“Right now I feel like I was throwing the ball rather than pitching,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “There is still a little rust. I have to come up with a game plan.”

Trout came up in an advantageous situation in the third with a pair of runners aboard and gifted a 3-0 count by Fiers. Not through granting gifts, Fiers looked to get back in the count with a batting practice fastball that Trout launched. Not surprising, but the bomb was the first of Trout’s 286 career homers to come on a 3-0 count. In fact, only five times in 210 situations had Trout resolved an at-bat on a 3-0 pitch with a swing, and that produced just one single. Needless to say, Fiers had little to fear, except…

When Brian Goodwin and David Fletcher opened the fifth, as they did in the third, with back-to-back singles, Fiers got a relatively early hook as well. But Yusmeiro Petit back the starter with three consecutive outs, including a sacrifice fly that reached the warning track induced off Trout’s bat. That smash would have given the Angels the lead, instead it made Petit the game’s subtle hero.

Four other A’s relievers followed, concluding  with Liam Hendriks’ four-out save, and none allowed a run. The heroes in Oakland’s 2-1 start to the season? The bullpen with one run allowed in 15 plus innings of work.

“They’ve been fantastic,” Bob Melvin noted. “We knew the bullpen would be very important in the beginning of the year. They’ve been up to the task.”

Sean Murphy, the first A’s catcher to truly be handed the keys to the car by Melvin since Stephen Vogt departed, finished the Halos with a 455-foot home run in the sixth. First pitch swinging against reliever Noe Ramirez, Murphy was everything Trout wasn’t with his controlled, home run swing in the third: violent and powerful.

“He’s about as strong as anybody and can hit the ball as far as anyone on our team. All it takes for a guy like him is one pitch,” Melvin said of his young catcher.

The A’s conclude the wraparound, four-game series on Monday with Griffin Canning facing familiar face, Chris Bassitt for the A’s.

Headline Sports with Daniel Dullum: What’s in a name? Washington Football Team and Seattle Kraken; plus more

The logo flag of the NHL’s newest franchise the Seattle Kraken flies atop the Seattle Space Needle where below the needle the Kraken will open up their new arena Climate Change Arena in the 2021-22 season (AP photo)

Daniel on Headlines podcast:

1 What’s in a name? Generic rebranding for D.C. football; NHL’s Seattle team hits a home run with its nickname selection

2 ESPN’s opening night Yankees-Nats broadcast a huge ratings hit

3 Nomadic Blue Jays may have found a home in Buffalo

4 Rutgers, Michigan State football teams in Covid-19 quarantine

5 Rockies’ Daniel Bard gets first MLB win in seven years

6 Swingin’ A’s hire Tom Hanks to serve as virtual concessions hawker

Daniel Dullum does Headlines podcasts every Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Angels and Bundy bounce back on Saturday to hand the A’s a 4-1 loss

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Oakland Athletics were not able to capitalize on their big Friday night extra-inning win on Saturday. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim came out and played the game as if Friday night never happened. In a term every little leaguer knows, “they just flushed it!” and beat the Athletics 4-1.

Dylan Bundy made the difference for LAA

Bundy (1-0) made his debut as an Angel after having been with Baltimore his entire career. As a former number one draft pick, much was expected of Bundy, but many have graded his time as an Oriole as a disappointment. He posted a record of 38-45 in 127 starts with a 4.67 ERA. During most of that time, the Baltimore baseball operations department has been less than stellar.

Bundy came to the Angels in an off-season trade in exchange for four minor league players.

On Saturday, Bundy gave up just one run (earned) on three hits while striking out seven and walking none in 6.2 innings. He faced 24 batters and threw 90 pitches (64 strikes).

Manaea was not a mystery on Saturday

Justin Upton put the Angels up on the board in the fourth inning when took a 1-1 pitch from Manaea over the left-field wall for his first home run of the season. It was also the 299th home run of Upton’s career.

Manaea had retired the previous 11 hitters he faced.

The fifth inning proved to be Manaea’s downfall. The Angels scored three runs off four hits. That sent Manaea (0-1) to the showers as J.B. Wendelken came on in relief.

With their 4-0 lead, the Angels never looked back.

A’s threatened in the seventh

With two out in the bottom of the seventh, Stephen Piscotty doubled down the left-field line. After a pitching change, Robbie Grossman drove Piscotty home with single to left. Grossman was able to steal second base and Chad Pinder walked. Grossman moved up to third on a wild pitch by Keynan Middleton. Austin Allen then grounded out to end the inning.

That would be all of the scoring for Oakland in the game.

The highlight for the A’s

Jesus Luzardo entered the game in the top of the sixth inning for Oakland. Everyone was anxious to see if the young pitcher could pick up where he left off from last season.

Luzardo threw 3.0 scoreless innings allowing just one hit while striking out two and walking one batter. He faced 10 hitters and tossed 44 pitches (28 strikes).

Luzardo ended 2019 with four scoreless outings and now has a 10.0-inning scoreless streak. He has given up just two runs in 15.0 career innings with 1.20 ERA.

Up next

There will many eyes watching the game on Sunday. The Angels will send their two-way superstar – Shohei Ohtani – to the mound to make a pitching start for the first time since 2018. He was unable to pitch in 2019 while recovering from “Tommy John Surgery’. In 2018, Ohtani posted a record of 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts. He recorded a 1.16 WHIP.

Mike Fiers will make the start for the A’s. Fiers finished 2019 with a record of 15-4 in 33 starts and an ERA of 3.90. He worked 184.2 innings and struck out 126 batters with a 1.19 WHIP.

Flores homers in Giants first win of the season 5-4

By Jeremy Kahn

After seeing Will Smith bring the Los Angeles Dodgers within one run, San Francisco Giants reliever Trevor Gott regrouped in a hurry.

Gott was able to get Max Muncy, Mookie Betts and reigning NL MVP Cody Bellinger in succession and the Giants hung on to defeat the Dodgers 5-4 at Dodger Stadium.

Things were looking great for the Giants, especially after being outscored 17-2 in the first two games of the shortened 2020 season.

Darin Ruf got the Giants on the board in the first inning, as he singled in Austin Slater to give them a quick 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately, the lead would not last long, as Justin Turner hit an opposite field double to score Bellinger in the bottom of the first inning.

The Giants would take the lead for good in the top of the second inning, as Dodgers pitcher unleashed a two-out wild pitch that allowed Mike Yastrzemski to score from third base.

Wilmer Flores hit the Giants second home run in as many days, as he launched a Wood offering and planted it into the left field pavilion to extend the Giants lead up to 3-1 in the top of the top of the third inning.

It looked like that Donovan Solano broke the game wide open in the top of the fourth inning, as he lined a two-run double to center field that scored both Jaylin Davis and Tyler Heineman.

After seeing the Giants jump out to a 5-1 lead on them, the Dodgers decided that enough was enough and began to get back into the game slowly but surely.

Solano, who hit a huge two-run double in the top of the fourth inning, made a huge fielding error that opened the flood gates for the Dodgers.

Corey Seager cut the Giants in half, as he slapped a two-run single to right field to score Bellinger and Turner to narrow the lead down to 5-3 entering the ninth inning.

Things did interesting when Smith led off the bottom of the ninth inning off of Gott; however, the right-hander regrouped to get the next three batters out in order to end the game.

Logan Webb made the start for the Giants, as he went the first four innings and due to the fact that he did not go the required five innings, Webb did not get the decision, despite leading when he left the game.

The decision went to left-hander Caleb Baragar, who pitched two strong innings with a strikeout in his major-league debut.

After Baragar threw his two innings, the Giants once again went to the reliever by committee role to close out the game.

Shawn Anderson, Tony Watson, Tyler Rogers and Gott pitched the final three innings to give the Giants their first win of the season.

Wood went three innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking three and striking out four in his season debut for the Dodgers.

Austin Slater went 0-for-1 with a run scored; however, he did reach three times via the walk against Dodgers pitching.

Thus far thru three games of the season, the Dodgers so-called Killer Bees, of Bellinger and Betts are not getting off to a great start to the abbreviated season, as they are a combined 4-for-29 at the plate.

UP NEXT: Julio Urias will take the mound for the Dodgers in the finale, while the Giants have yet to announce their starter.