The Giants’ coaching staff spent weeks preparing for the opening series against the Dodgers, and although some of the pitching decisions looked strange at the time, there is no doubt that they worked in general. The Giants came out with a split, a great result for any team visiting Dodger Stadium these days.
The second time by evoked a little more spontaneity, came in the middle of a tough trip of three cities. For the second straight night, a decision was made when a starting pitcher approached the end of his belt. This time it cost the Giants the game and a chance at a series win.
On Saturday night, Johnny Cueto was allowed to expand to 93 pitches, but a three-run homer at his last proved almost costly. A day later, Kevin Gausman was pulled to just 80 yards, and he looked off from the dugout when Tyler Rogers gave a three-run homer, blowing the lead in a game that would see the Giants lose 6-2.
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Gausman had an excellent fastball on an afternoon of 82 degrees, averaging 97 mph for the first time in four years and hitting 99 mph multiple times. His last pitch was his hardest of the day, a 99.3 mph heater that turned Cody Bellinger into center field for a one-off single. Kapler came out and held his right hand up as he reached the mound.
“I think it was just a hot day, seven times up, third time through the hardest part of the order,” Kapler said of the decision. “He had done a great job. He had carried his stuff in that inning, he had carried his location in that inning, and it felt like just the right time to keep him healthy and strong and safe through the season based on for the first come in seventh.
“At the same time, we had a relief ready, which we felt confident we could get a baseball with a runner on the first base and get us out of that inning.”
Rogers gave up a single to Justin Turner and then knocked out Max Muncy. He was about to come out of the inning, but he grew a 3-2 curveball to AJ Pollock and it sailed into the empty bleachers in the left.
Rogers had thrown up two strong innings the night before, and the Giants feel he is one who can bounce back. But the Dodgers saw Rogers for the fifth time in 17 days. Pollock had confronted him the night before and flown to a curveball.
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Kapler disagreed with the notion that the novelty had polluted when it came to the submarine.
“I think it’s not only novelty with Rog, it’s the ability to throw strikes with two pitches that are unusual. It’s an unusual appearance. He can attack the zone with those two pitches and they are actually just flat. -out good pitches, “said Kapler. “Pollock made a nice adjustment, came up with two strikes and two outs, and he was able to lift the ball.”
The explosion cost Gausman a win on a day when he became the first Giants starter to record a quality start this season. Gausman gave up just three hits in 6 1/3 innings and struck out six. He made a sour face when he came off the field and threw his gum, and later said he had a chance to finish seventh.
“I certainly felt like I had more in mind. My limit is not 80 seats, but Kap’s job is to make those decisions. That’s his job description,” Gausman said. “I’m not the one calling to the bull and letting guys go, that kind of thing. Of course I thought I was good enough to guarantee to get a few more guys out, but we’re trying to win the series and it’s a hot day. Maybe those were factors in his decision. “
