© Dale Zanine | 2021 Aug 29
One of the Giants’ most impressive records, in a season of remarkable streaks and milestones, has ended.
Entering this weekend at Truist Park, San Francisco had won nine straight series.
The list of teams in their wake: Dodgers, Astros, Diamondbacks (twice), Brewers, Rockies, Mets (twice), Athletics. First-place clubs, last-place clubs, and everything in between — the Giants handled them.
In that stretch, starting on July 27, San Francisco went 22-8, including a 19-6 August.
But the Atlanta Braves, in first place in the National League East, spoiled the fun. Sunday’s 9-0 defeat to Atlanta confirmed a series loss and slammed the door on SF’s streak. And now the Giants (84-46), after a still-successful 6-3 road trip, have to fly cross-country back home to the Bay to meet World Series contenders Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sunday, both starting pitchers returned from the injured list. Braves’ right-hander Ian Anderson had been sidelined since the All-Star Break with shoulder discomfort, while Anthony DeSclafani has been dealing with a sore right ankle since his 1.1-inning Mets start on Aug. 18. The former fared much better than the later in the series rubber match.
DeSclafani was sailing smoothly until the fourth inning. Then a tsunami ripped through the starter who’s been dealing with a right ankle injury. He left a slider over the plate to slugger Jorge Soler, who ripped a 419-foot solo homer into left. Two batters later, he made a similar mistake to third baseman Austin Riley, who connected on a fraternal blast.
Before DeSclafani recorded an out in the fourth inning, he allowed three runs. The Braves beat him for those two home runs, plus three infield singles. Pitching coach Andrew Bailey checked on him first, then athletic trainer Dave Groeschner and manager Gabe Kapler visited him before calling on Sammy Long. During the latter meeting, DeSclafani appeared to look down at the ankle that sent him to to the 10-day injured list.
Long cleaned up DeSclafani’s mess in the fourth by retiring three straight Braves, then put Atlanta down in order again in the fifth.
But then Long, like DeSclafani (3IP, 6H, 3ER, 4K), apparently ran out of gas. He lost the zone in the sixth inning, walking Joc Pederson and Dansby Swanson. Eddie Rosario sent them both home with a triple to the right field corner to put Atlanta up 5-0.
As Long faltered, Anderson and the Braves’ relievers mowed down the Giants. Tommy La Stella, Brandon Crawford, and Mike Yastrzemski went hitless. In total, San Francisco registered just five base knocks.
The Giants sent Long out again in the seventh — his fourth inning of relief work — despite the poor results. It was an act of surrender in the short-term. Broadcasters Dave Flemming and Javier Lopez theorized that SF may want Long to stay in starter condition, so he could take DeSclafani’s place in the rotation if he has to return to the injured list.
Atlanta continued to pound Long. Ozzie Albies led off with a double, then scored on a Freddie Freeman single. Pederson scored Atlanta’s seventh run off a sacrifice fly.
Long’s afternoon only worsened. Guillermo Heredia scored on a wild pitch. Albies pounced on a hanging curve for a homer. Atlanta extended its lead to 9-0 in the eighth as Long surrendered six earned.
Regardless of the objective of keeping Long in the game, it was calculated. As was replacing him with outfielder Austin Slater, who hardly cracked 70mph. SF was fine with keeping any employee hired with the job description “relief pitcher” on ice.
There are merits to having a fully rested bullpen for Kapler to deploy. Especially with the Brewers and Dodgers coming to town.