Story by Robbie Lewis (@sayheyrob)
5-28-24 RECAP: Philadelphia Phillies (38-17) vs San Francisco Giants (28-27)
Despite winning yesterday, the Giants took a square kick in the nuts before Tuesday nights game when they learned that LaMonte Wade Jr. was going to be sidelined for a month with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Trenton Brooks got promoted from Sacramento today to help fill the void over at 1st base. Tonight would actually be his big league debut after 8 years in the minors, so that’s neat. Also tonight they’d be facing old friend Zack Wheeler and the Phillies for game two of this three game set. It would be a bullpen game for Bob Melvin’s club and former Philadelphia arm Spencer Howard was recalled from Sacramento to be the “bulk innings” arm following opener Erik Miller. If you’ve followed Howard at all this year you know he’s had his issues in AAA, so it was sure it be an interesting night at Oracle Park.
Through 3 innings there was still no score. Bob Melvin pulled a fast one on me and brought in Taylor Rogers following a scoreless 1st inning from Erik Miller. Rogers made good on the decision by throwing up two zeroes himself. Bullpen games are a bitch to recap. That I can say with certainty.
I have to say this, hearing “Spencer Howard” automatically reminds me of “Scott Howard” from the hit movie “Teen Wolf” back in the 80’s starring Michael J. Fox. A tremendous movie. Very tremendous. Anyways, Spencer Howard did finally came into the game in the top of the 4th inning and he made it look fairly easy tossing scoreless frames in the 4th, 5th, and 6th.
The Giants were also taking at bats themselves in this game. I promise. However, they only had a couple hits as Zack Wheeler did what he always does and put up zeroes through six innings. Including nine punch outs. Long story short, it was still 0-0 heading to the 7th.
Spencer Howard got the leash extended for the top of the 7th and he put up another zero. Couldn’t ask more from a guy who has had his struggles in the PCL this year. Game isn’t over yet and I’m still giving him the game ball. He passed the baton to Tyler Rogers who worked a scoreless frame himself despite giving up a leadoff single to Kyle Schwarber.
The Giants threatened in the bottom 8th but they were denied by Phillies lefty Jose Alvarado. Sean Hjelle came in and worked a scoreless top of the 9th and set the stage for the Giants in the bottom half of the inning.
Despite Thairo Estrada and Matt Chapman leading the bottom of the 9th off with back to back singles, the Giants couldn’t put the Phillies away as Jeff Hoffman got tough with traffic on the bases. Patrick Bailey and Jorge Soler both popped out and Tyler Fitzgerald went down swinging to end the inning. Massive missed opportunity.
Hjelle came back out for the top of the 10th while Brandon Marsh was the charity runner at 2nd. He was quickly moved to 3rd on a Kody Clemons groundout. That brought up Alec Bohm and he hit one right to Wilmer Flores who was now at 1st base for an unproductive out that left Marsh at 3rd. Bob Melvin would then elect to intentionally walk Kyle Schwarber and that left it up to JT Realmuto. He’d roll one up the middle to Tyler Fitzgerald at shortstop to end the Phillies half of the 10th. Whew!
Lefty Matt Strahm got the call from Phillies manager Rob Thomson for the bottom of the 10th. With Tyler Fitzgerald stationed at 2nd base as the charity runner, Heliot Ramos was wisely intentionally walked to begin the inning. This brought Wilmer Flores to the plate and he hit a medium deep fly ball out to center that was deep enough for the fleet footed Fitzgerald to tag up and get to 3rd. With Luis Matos coming to the dish in a 1st & 3rd one out situation, I was sure he’d be intentionally walked as well to set up a lefty vs lefty showdown between Strahm and Mike Yastrzemski. Well, Rob Thomson rolled the dice and lost as Matos hit a medium deep fly ball to left that allowed Fitzgerald to tag up again and score as the winning run. This gave us our 1-0 Giants final! Slap hands!
Sheesh! Turned into a fun game to recap for you guys. The Giants will look to bust the brooms out on the Phillies tomorrow, which is something I didn’t think I’d be saying in 2024. Kyle Harrison (4-1, 3.90 ERA) will take the ball for the good guys and he’ll be opposed by fellow stud lefty, Cristopher Sanchez (2-3, 3.15 ERA). First pitch 12:45 PM PT.
Two games over .500 now. We used to pray for times like this!
- Matos: 0-3, RBI, BB, 2 K (.258)
- Estrada: 2-4, 2 K (.243)
- Chapman: 2-4, K (.241)
- Yastrzemski: 0-3, BB, 2 K (.218)
- Bailey: 0-3, BB (.299)
- Ramos: 0-3, BB, 2 K (.275)
- Miller: IP, BB, 2 K (4.21)
- Rogers, Ta: 2 IP, H, 2 K (2.91)
- Howard: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 K (0.00) (49 pitches)
- Rogers, Ty: IP, H, K (3.12)
- Hjelle (W, 2-1): 2 IP, BB (2.95)
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