BOX SCORE
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Rickwood Discipline was able to shine Thursday evening. The Giants by no means fairly obtained there.
Enjoying in the identical ballpark the place Willie Mays roamed middle area in 1948, the Giants misplaced 6-5 to the St. Louis Cardinals. They’ve dropped three of 4 on this journey and 5 of seven total to drop again to 4 video games beneath .500 (36-40).
After a shifting pregame ceremony, the Cardinals wasted no time getting on the board. Brendan Donovan capped a three-run backside of the primary with a homer to proper that was hit so arduous that not one of the outfielders even moved.
The Giants tied it up within the third on their very own blast to proper. It was, after all, Heliot Ramos, who lifted a breaking ball excessive into the thick air and watched because it saved carrying and carrying. The three-run house run was Ramos’ tenth of the season and continued his red-hot stretch on the plate.
The Giants fell behind 6-3 heading into the sixth, however they loaded the bases with one out after an RBI single from Wilmer Flores. They’d get only one extra run out of the chance, as each Nick Ahmed and Brett Properly flew out. They obtained the leadoff runner on within the ninth in opposition to MLB saves chief Ryan Helsley and Patrick Bailey singled with two outs and two strikes, however Matt Chapman struck out to finish the evening.
Listed here are the takeaways from the Giants’ loss to the Cardinals:
Hey Now, You are An All-Star?
Ramos did not present up till Might 8, however he turned the primary Large to succeed in double-digit homers together with his shot within the third inning. At this level, there is not any doubt that he ought to be proper within the coronary heart of the All-Star dialog for Nationwide League outfielders.
Ramos entered the day ranked fourth among the many group in fWAR at 1.9 and he leads all NL outfielders with a wRC+ of 166. The extra conventional stats might be a slight concern, as he simply hasn’t performed all that a lot, however he is catching up in a rush.
Coming into the day, solely seven NL outfielders had double-digit homers and 4 of them had been at precisely 10. Ramos is also now within the high 10 in RBI amongst NL outfielders. He is making a critical push to be in Arlington in a couple of weeks, which might be one of many extra surprising All-Star picks in franchise historical past given the best way his season began.
Without end Large (Besides For This Weekend)
After practically 14,000 innings at shortstop — and one as a pitcher — Brandon Crawford lastly performed a brand new place on Thursday. Extremely, it occurred in opposition to the workforce he starred for over 13 seasons.
Crawford was initially alleged to play third base on Tuesday, however when beginning shortstop Masyn Winn obtained sick, he moved again to his traditional place. Nolan Arenado was hit by a pitch Wednesday and suffered an elbow contusion, so Crawford ended up at third in opposition to his former teammates. He knew when he signed with the Cardinals that shifting round may be required and he was enthusiastic about it. It took till June, however he lastly obtained a recreation in at a special infield spot.
“It is humorous how baseball works out like that,” Crawford mentioned, smiling.
Crawford mentioned earlier than the sport that going through the Giants can be “slightly bizarre at first,” however he was assured that it will all appear regular after he obtained an opportunity to hit or area a grounder. That got here early, as he ended the primary inning by scooping a groundball from Matt Chapman and throwing him out at first. Crawford struck out and walked in two plate appearances earlier than getting lifted for a pinch-hitter within the seventh.
Again To The Drawing Board
Keaton Winn lastly appeared to proper the ship final week when he allowed three runs over six innings in opposition to the Los Angeles Angels, however the struggles returned Thursday. Winn gave up a three-run shot within the first inning and did not make it out of the third. He was charged with 5 earned on 5 hits and a stroll in 2 2/3 innings.
Winn has now allowed at the very least 5 runs in 4 of his final 5 begins. His ERA was 3.18 on the finish of April, however it now’s 7.16. The Giants nonetheless do not actually have any further choices for his or her rotation. Kyle Harrison, Blake Snell, Robbie Ray, Alex Cobb and Tristan Beck are on the IL, though Snell ought to be getting near motion. The Giants, nevertheless, have already got one open rotation spot that they are utilizing for bullpen video games.
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