Mitch Haniger, Logan Webb lead SF Giants to 3-1 victory over Brewers

SF Giants left fielder Mitch Haniger blasted a game-winning homer to get ace Logan Webb the win in a 3-1 victory over the Brewers.

After scoring 15 runs in a blowout victory on Friday night, the SF Giants found themselves in an old-fashioned pitcher's duel against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon. Logan Webb and Corbin Burnes faced off in a battle between two aces with Northern California roots. Both righties delivered excellent outings. However, a late-game home run by Mitch Haniger lifted the Giants to a 3-1 victory.

SF Giants ace Logan Webb pitches against the Brewers on May 27, 2023 / Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Burnes found himself in trouble early, allowing a leadoff single to LaMonte Wade Jr. and a walk to J.D. Davis with one out in the first inning. The former St. Mary's (CA) star sailed a pickoff throw to second base that enabled Wade to advance to third and put runners on the corners. Giants right fielder Michael Conforto capitalized on the free base with a sacrifice fly to give San Francisco a 1-0 lead.

That was the only run-scoring rally the Giants lineup could muster against Burnes. The 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner quickly rebounded from his slow start and found a rhythm. While the righty's velocity has dipped a bit this season, Burnes' cutter reached 97 mph multiple times and highlighted an arsenal that appeared back at the top of its game. In the end, Burnes surrendered one run on four hits and three walks across seven innings pitched with eight strikeouts.

Facing Webb, Burnes' first-inning mistake was almost enough to get him the loss. As elite as Burnes was, Webb was nearly unhittable. The Giants ace allowed just two hits and a walk across six shutout innings before a Bryce Turang triple and Victor Caratini single evened the score at one in the bottom of the seventh.

Still, Webb racked up 11 strikeouts over the course of his outing, inducing 18 whiffs from Brewers hitters. There may not be another pitcher in MLB with as dynamic an arsenal as Webb when the Rocklin, California native is locating his pitches as well as he was on Saturday. His elite changeup and sinker are always standout pitches by themselves, but he now seems to have a good feel for a mid-80s slider that makes him even tougher for opposing hitters.

A win for Webby ♠️ pic.twitter.com/mTI4a7Tbh1

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 27, 2023

With the game tied 1-1, the Giants wasted no time in the top of the eighth retaking the lead. Brewers reliever Peter Strzelecki allowed a single to J.D. Davis before throwing a 93.4 mph fastball right down the middle to Mitch Haniger. The former Mariners slugger sat on the first pitch heater and blasted his second home run of the series, putting San Francisco ahead 3-1, and giving Webb an opportunity to get the win.

HUGE Hanny Homer pic.twitter.com/PIf2v0nKoc

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 27, 2023

With a two-run lead, the Giants turned to Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval, their two best relievers for the final two innings. Neither Rogers nor Doval had their most dominant outings of the season. Rogers' command was unusually erratic and led him to hit Owen Miller. Doval hung a slider to Brian Anderson, who lined a lead-off double to left field. However, both righties completed shutout innings anyway.

After winning the first three games of the series, the Giants have already clinched a series victory. They will now try for a rare four-game series sweep on the road. The SF Giants will have the most underrated pitcher in MLB, Alex Cobb, taking the hill against Colin Rea on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM Pacific.