Story by Robbie Lewis (@sayheyrob)
5-21-24 RECAP: San Francisco Giants (23-25) vs Pittsburgh Pirates (22-26)
The streaking Giants embarked on what felt like their 12th (really only 3rd) east coast road trip of the young 2024 season. This one began in Pittsburgh where the Pirates have come back to earth a bit after a hot start to their campaign. It would be up to Logan Webb to keep them at “bay” and hopefully keep the Giants “ship” headed in the right direction. Lots of pirate puns on deck.
The Giants lucked into some buried treasure in the top of the 1st against lefty Martin Perez and some ugly defense. Thairo Estrada drew a one out walk and was promptly moved over to 3rd on a Luis Matos single. That’s reigning NL Player of the Week, Luis Matos, I should add. Anyways, Matt Chapman went down looking for out number two and that brought Wilmer Flores to the plate. Flores hit what seemed to be a routine pop up to shallow left field, but left fielder Jack Suwinski never really came in for it and left it up to shortstop Oneil Cruz who couldn’t make the play. The ball bounced off his glove and shot away allowing Estrada and the hustling Matos to score all the way from 1st. Just like that Logan Webb was gifted with a 2-0 lead.
The Pirates ruined Logan Webb’s complete game shutout bid in the bottom of the 2nd. Nick Gonzales and Jack Suwinski hit back to back singles to start the inning and Pirates had 1st & 3rd with nobody out. Webb got Yasmani Grandal to strikeout, but Jared Triolo hit an RBI sac fly to center and made it just a 2-1 Giants lead.
The game hit a standstill until the top of the 5th. Martin Perez was still on the mound and he issued a leadoff walk to Jorge Soler. That brought Thairo Estrada to the dish and he launched a 2-run tater into the left field seats to jack the Giants lead to 4-1. It was a majestic blast. Very majestic. With one out, Matt Chapman hit a ball like it was shot out of a cannon off the right field wall for a double. That would end the day for Martin Perez. Hard throwing righty Luis Ortiz took over for the Buccos. Wilmer Flores with a single through the hole on the left side that moved Chapman over to 3rd. Heliot Ramos then drew a walk and the bases were loaded for the pinch hitting Mike Yastrzemski. It wasn’t to be for Yaz as he popped out to 1st base for out number two. That left it up to Marco Luciano who would pop out as well to end the inning. Luis Ortiz kept the hopes of raising the Jolly Roger alive for now.
Pittsburgh rode that small wave of momentum into a rally in the bottom of the 5th. Ji Hwan Bae drew one out walk and then stole 2nd. Forever Giants Andrew McCutchen then reached on an infield single where 1st baseman Wilmer Flores went after a routine grounder to 2nd and Logan Webb didn’t cover 1st until it was too late, so Thairo Estrada had nowhere to go with the ball. Bryan Reynolds then beat out a potential double play ball for an RBI fielders choice to cut the Giants lead to 4-2.
With one out in the top of the 7th, Matt Chapman smoked another cannon shot to right center field that just cleared the wall to give the Giants their three run lead back at 5-2. It was a piss missile worthy blast off Ortiz who supplied much of the power on that one.
After six strong innings from Webb, Bob Melvin would go to his bullpen. It would be Ryan Walker and he made quick work of the Pirates bottom third of the order. It remained 5-2 Giants heading to the 8th.
Righty Kyle Nicolas took over for Ortiz in the top of the 8th. This dude is listed at 6’4”, which is really tall for a pirate. Marco Luciano wasn’t intimated as he led the inning off with a single to right field. Curt Casali followed with a walk and the Giants were quickly cookin’ in the 8th. With Jorge Soler at the plate, Nicolas chucked a wild pitch over his head and both runners moved up. Soler would strikeout, but Thairo Estrada hit an RBI fielders choice up the middle to increase the Giants lead to 6-2.
Tyler Jolly Rogers threw a crispy clean 8th inning and Luke Jackson got the ball in the 9th in what was still a 6-2 ballgame. He’d get Nick Gonzales to groundout on one pitch, but then issue a walk to Jack Suwinski. Yasmani Grandal then came to the plate and shot a double into the left center field gap to give the Pirates 2nd & 3rd with just the one out. That brought Bob Melvin out and it was officially Camilo Doval time. Doval walked Jared Triolo and loaded the bases for Ji Hwan Bae and he wasted no time hitting an RBI single into right field to make it 6-3. With the situation in doubt now, Andrew McCutchen hit what looked to be a game ending double play ball to Luciano at shortstop and he flat out booted it. Another run scored and it was 6-4 with the bases still loaded and just one out. Bryan Reynolds hit another ball to Luciano and this time and he recorded an out 2nd for out number two. A run did come into score to make it 6-5. With runners on the corners and two outs, it was up to Oneil Cruz. Sure as shit, he came through with an RBI double and this game was tied at 6-6. Crazy shit. Doval would get Connor Joe to strikeout to end the inning, but the Giants ship appeared to be sinking.
After Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr., and Patrick Bailey couldn’t record a hit against the trash can that’s been David Bednar this year, the game stayed tied heading to the bottom of the 10th. It took one pitch from Erik Miller and Nick Gonzales grounded an RBI single up the middle to end the game.
Raise the Jolly Roger! 7-6 Pirates final. The four game winning streak all of a sudden feels like a four game losing streak. Blake Snell will make his return tomorrow and Pirates righty Jared Jones (3-4, 2.89 ERA) will look to continue his strong start to the season. 3:40 PM PT first pitch. Unless Snell throws a complete game they’ll probably lose.
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