Patrick Bailey, Logan Webb lead SF Giants to 8-3 victory over Angels

The SF Giants were on the verge of losing another Logan Webb start before a six-run rally in the ninth inning led them past the Los Angeles Angels.

The SF Giants defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-3 on Monday night, avoiding a deflating loss with a six-run ninth-inning rally against Angels closer Carlos Estévez. For most of the game, the story matched the worst of the Giants' past few weeks. The offense squandered what few opportunities they had, putting nearly impossible pressure on the pitching staff to be perfect. But perhaps as a sign of things to come, San Francisco's luck with runners in scoring position took a drastic turn in the ninth.

SF Giants teammates Patrick Bailey, Logan Webb, and Wilmer Flores talk during a game against the Angels on August 7, 2023 / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Giants ace Logan Webb was solid on Monday night, although a couple of defensive miscues made his life harder than it should have been. Webb ultimately allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and zero walks across 5.2 innings pitched with six strikeouts. 

Rookie center fielder Luis Matos and catcher Patrick Bailey each played a role in costing Webb a run. In the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Angels trailing 1-0, Shohei Ohtani led the inning off with a base hit up the middle. Matos was shading left field but also seemed unaware that Ohtani was pursuing a double out of the box. While Ohtani may have been safe at second anyway if Matos had treated the entire play with more urgency, the play would have been much closer.

Webb retired the next two hitters he faced, keeping Ohtani on second before allowing a two-out RBI single to C.J. Cron. Then, on the next play, Mickey Moniak singled to center field, but Matos struggled to field the ball, misplaying it twice before he was able to get the ball back into the infield. By the time he did, Cron was rounding third and heading for home. Second baseman Thairo Estrada delivered a perfect throw home that still should have beat Cron to the bag, but the ball bounced off Bailey's glove.

On the other side of the equation, the Giants faced Angels left-handed starter Patrick Sandoval. Sandoval had allowed an RBI single to Bailey in the bottom of the fourth inning, who drove in the red-hot Wilmer Flores who had doubled earlier in the frame. But outside of that rally, the Giants were struggling to put runners on base against Sandoval.

Patty Barrels delivers 💪 pic.twitter.com/KyJYOmgMEI

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 8, 2023

Given the Giants recent offensive struggles, it seemed well within the realm of possibility that Webb would soon record his 10th loss of the season. Instead, J.D. Davis quickly made sure the Giants ace was no longer on the hook, blasting a game-tying solo home run off Sandoval in the bottom half of the seventh.

J.D. goes 431 feet to dead center 💣 pic.twitter.com/ewlgcK1MsB

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 8, 2023

But even that tie was short lived. Giants manager Gabe Kapler turned to setup arm Tyler Rogers in the top of the seventh, but A.J. Pollock misplayed a fly ball in right field, which turned into a triple that eventually scored a run. A 3-2 Angels lead felt insurmountable.

Then, when a pinch-hitting Joc Pederson was robbed of a home run by Moniak in the top of the eighth, it seemed like a loss was pre-destined.

Hey, Mickey! pic.twitter.com/xib3Z0nre7

— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2023

But after Taylor Rogers shut down the Angels in the eighth, in came Estévez. The former Rockies reliever entered the game with 23 saves in 24 opportunities this season, but facing Flores to lead off the inning, he allowed a single. Then, he walked Davis to put two runners on for Bailey. Bailey poked a soft line drive toward the left field line. Angels left fielder Randal Grichuk ran over and misplayed the angle, allowing it to roll all the way to the wall. Flores and Davis scored the game-tying and go-ahead runs, and Bailey stood on second base with a two-RBI double.

This game could use some more Patrick Bailey... pic.twitter.com/Z7PazfxM41

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 8, 2023

The wheels fell off for the Angels at that point. The Giants recorded another walk and four more hits before the inning was over, extending their lead to 8-3. Still, Kapler was taking no chances with the unlikely opportunity to secure the win. He turned to closer Camilo Doval in the bottom of the ninth inning, who struck out the side.

Somehow, some way, the SF Giants won the game and improved to 62-51 on the season. They will look to turn that victory into a winning streak on Tuesday back in Anaheim against the Angels. First pitch is scheduled for 6:38 PM Pacific.