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It’s the kind of games and the kind of series the Giants need to win.
After seeing their six-game winning streak end on Saturday against the modest Colorado Rockies, San Francisco rebounded on Sunday after a solid outing from Alex Wood and a timely blow to Oracle Park. The end result was a 5-2 win and a four-game series win over the Rockies.
For the significance of wins against teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, the schedule disappointments are just as important. Especially in a match where Wood had just had two difficult starts and where the bullpen was heavily supported the night before. The schedule is also about to get much more difficult.
Before the Giants face the Rockies again on September 6, they have two series against the New York Mets, one against the Athletics, one against the Atlanta Braves, one against the Milwaukee Brewers and their final series against the Dodgers this season. The champions take care of the bottom feeders, and the Giants did it with the Rockies on Sunday.
Here are three more things to know about the Giants’ 76th win of the year.
Alex Wood finds his groove
Wood came on Sunday allowing nine earned runs combined from his two previous starts. He needed a good start and found his place from the first pitch until he ran into trouble in the seventh inning. The veteran left-hander allowed two earned runs (both in seventh) in 6 2/3 innings while removing six sticks and walking just one.
Only seven Rockies in total made it to base against Wood. It was also his longest start since July 7.
With Johnny Cueto still on the injured list, combined with the difficulty of the Giants’ schedule, Wood will be an important piece of the puzzle for the Giants. He should be happy with the day’s results and will look to feed on them in the future.
Peloton Show
That’s the beauty of Gabe Kapler’s roster. It’s designed to do damage against right-handed or left-handed people and the interchangeability was fully visible against Jon Gray and the Rockies’ paddock.
Kapler pitched six left-handed hitters against right-handed Gray. In 4 1/3 innings, Gray allowed seven hits and six came off a left-hander. Tommy La Stella finished the day with three hits (two on Gray), increasing his batting average from .234 to .255.
The magic also continued late in the seventh inning when the Giants added two big runs. Austin Slater came off the bench to face southpaw Ben Bowden and hit an RBI brace along the right field line.
Right ? Left handed? No matter. The Giants are made to beat any pitcher thrown at them.
Game of the day
Somehow, Wade Jr. always seems to have his pulse on the outcome of the game. This continued on Sunday, as usual.
Wade Jr. went 1-3 at plate, but it was his defense that was most important. The versatile outfielder / first baseman became Wood’s best friend with two strikeouts late in the seventh inning when a perfect pitch nailed Elias Diaz to home plate for the inning final. He preserved the Giants’ 3-2 lead and kept Wood in line for the win.
It’s really not a Giants win without this guy doing something big.
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