Not since Tim Lincecum has a Giants pitcher dominated hitters like Carlos Rodón.
The Freak struck out at least 10 batters in a game nine times in 2008, eight times in 2009 and seven times in 2010.
The Giants’ $22 million man struck out 11 Diamondbacks in six innings for his seventh double-digit strikeout game of the season. Between Lincecum’s 2010 and this season, no Giants pitcher collected as many double-digit K games.
Rodón allowed a run on two hits and two walks and exited with a lead from homers by LaMonte Wade Jr. and J.D. Davis, but Dominic Leone allowed two runs in the eighth and the Giants (59-58) couldn’t cook up a third ninth-inning comeback in their last four games. San Francisco’s winning streak ends at five with a 3-2 loss.
“We need to have confidence in everybody in our bullpen,” manager Gabe Kapler said postgame. “Camilo Doval cannot handle the load for the entire bullpen all the time. We have to have everybody contribute and we trust these guys to do so.”
Although Rodón has delivered at a Prime Lincecum level all season, two of his four worst starts came against the Diamondbacks. And though he shoved on Wednesday, the end result soured it.
The All-Star allowed five earned runs in a 7-3 loss in Arizona on July 26 and another four in a July 4 loss.
What about the fourth-place Diamondbacks could possibly give San Francisco’s ace so much trouble?
The Diamondbacks lead MLB with a 28.7% o-swing%, meaning they swing at the fewest pitches out of the strike zone. Rodón is most effective when his four-seam fastball leaves his hand looking like a strike, then rides up above the zone. That sets up his slider, which can generate whiffs below similarly outside the zone.
Somehow, Rodón got the Diamondbacks to buck their strategy Wednesday. His four-seamer must’ve been especially deceptive.
In the first three innings, Christian Walker, Stone Garrett and Carson Kelly each flailed at fastballs at or above the letters. Rodón struck out six Diamondbacks, all on his fastball, in the first three frames — including the side in the second.
Wade’s fifth home run in his past nine games — a solo shot into San Francisco’s bullpen — gave Rodón a one-run lead after three. But Rodón gave a run right back, as Stone Garrett, in his big-league debut, drove in a run with a double to Triples Alley.
But Rodón kept pumping. A scoreless fifth preceded three more punchouts in the sixth, cementing his seventh double-digit strikeout game of the season. He’s the first Giant to do so since Tim Lincecum in 2010.
Rodón’s 11th and final strikeout of the night stranded the bases loaded in the sixth and came on an 0-2 slider to Jordan Luplow. He strutted off the mound with a double fist pump.
As San Francisco pursues a wild card spot, Rodón will have ample opportunities to chase the double-digit strikeout totals frrom Lincecum’s Cy Young seasons. More games like Wednesday’s 19-whiff performance will help.
“Timmy was a legend,” Rodón said postgame. “He was really, really good throughout his career. I guess that’s pretty cool. Like I said, Timmy was very, very good at this game. Hopefully I can be as good as him.”
But much more on Rodón’s mind is winning. Davis’ solo home run in the sixth — his fourth for SF — gave the Giants a 2-1 lead, but Leone allowed two runs in the eighth to give Arizona its first lead of the night.
Garrett’s second double put runners on second and third, and both scored on Jake McCarthy’s single to put AZ up 3-2.
In the bottom of the eighth, Daulton Varsho robbed Davis of a surefire double and Brandon Crawford got stranded at second. Tyler Rogers worked a perfect top of the ninth, but then with one last chance, Mike Yastrzemski got doubled up and Thairo Estrada — whose clutch gene has presented itself twice this week, popped up.
By then, Rodón had been inside the Giants’ clubhouse for hours, a gem wasted by an 0-for-7 performance with runners in scoring position and another bullpen dud.