By Morris Phillips
Given Monday’s result, it’s likely the Giants aren’t a big fan of holiday travel.
Arriving in Atlanta at 1am local time, after a lengthy cross-country flight from Denver, the Giants limped into their hotel rooms at 2am, in advance of their series opener with the Braves at 1pm EST.
While the team figured to be sleepy given the travel, in reality, they were even sleepier, falling to the last place Braves, 5-3 in a game they trailed by four runs for five of the nine innings. Jeff Samardzija allowed five runs in the first three innings—ending his impressive streak of allowing just one run in each of his last three starts—and the Giants’ offense managed just one run in the game’s first eight frames.
Braves’ starter Mike Foltynewicz was more effective than any jet lag the Giants may have experienced, holding them to three hits and a run over six innings while regularly dialing up mid-90’s heat with his fastball. After allowing a solo shot to Brandon Belt to open the second inning, Foltynewicz retired 14 of the next 15 batters he faced.
“I was settled in out there, just comfortable and went out there and attacked hitters and made them put it in play,” Foltynewicz said.
“Probably the best total package I’ve seen out of him,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said, saying the sample size was the two years he’s been with the club. “He just had everything going and was free and easy.”
Of the 17 clubs to end a series on Sunday, and start a new one on Memorial Day in a different city, the Giants landed on the top of the list in terms of miles traveled at 1,402. The White Sox (1-0 losers in New York to the Mets) and the Yankees (4-2 losers in Toronto) traveled the second and third most miles as all three clubs lost. The White Sox and Giants had an additional burden of having the earliest start time on Monday.
What else other than travel—and Foltynewicz—could explain the hottest team in baseball losing in such a laconic fashion to baseball’s worst home team?
The Giants came in winners of 15 of 17, having survived another laborious visit to Denver to face the Rockies over the weekend. Also, the surge propelled the team to the second best record in baseball behind the Cubs. Meanwhile, the Braves have only made headlines this season for their historically, awful start at Turner Field where they won just two of their first 22 home games.
In advance of San Francisco’s arrival, the Braves had shown signs of life, winning five of 12 after manager Fredi Gonzalez was fired, and two of three in Atlanta after that disastrous 2-20 start. That resurgence continued Monday, no surprise to Snitker.
“They’re unbelievable,” Snitker said of his young club. “Every day they show up, always energetic. They work hard, they grind it out. It’s good to see when they’re rewarded with a win like this.”
Samardzija admittedly wasn’t himself on Monday, missing spots up with his fastball and slider. But he and manager Bruce Bochy were perturbed by home plate umpire John Tumpane’s inconsistent strike zone. Staked to an early 1-0 lead, Samardzija fell in trouble in the second when rookie Mallex Smith tripled home three runs on a liner that evaded left field Jarrett Parker and went all the way to the wall.
In the third, Samardzija allowed singles to the first two hitters he faced. One out later, Belt’s error allowed Gordon Beckham to score. Kelly Johnson followed with a run-scoring sacrifice fly and the Braves led 5-1.
The Giants rallied in the ninth, scoring twice. But with the tying runner at first, and lead runner Brandon Crawford at third, closer Arodys Vizcaino induced Kelby Tomlinson into a fielders’ choice, ground ball that ended the game.
On Tuesday, Jake Peavy looks to pick up where he left off in a matchup with Atlanta’s Matt Wisler. Peavy shut down the Padres in his last start, his second, strong outing in his last three. Still, the 34-year old veteran has just one win, and has gone without a win in his last seven starts.
NOTES: Matt Duffy suffered a painful injury, taking a 94 mph fastball on his forearm in the sixth inning. Tests done after the injury didn’t reveal a break, but the starting third baseman is likely to miss at least a game or two. Sergio Romo has completed his rehab cycle with Triple A Sacramento, but isn’t expected to rejoin the club during this series. More likely he rejoins the big league club sometime next week. Right hander Chris Stratton, the Giants’ top pick in 2012, made his major league debut, pitching a scoreless eighth inning.
