SF Giants squander another Logan Webb gem in 3-2 loss to Rockies
The SF Giants lost to the Colorado Rockies 3-2 at Coors Field in one of Logan Webb's most impressive performances of the season. With playoff contention on the line, Webb was amazing in one of the most hitter-friendly environments in the majors. Yet, the Giants' offense and bullpen continued failing the team's ace. The Giants fell to 75-72 on the season, failing to keep pace with the Reds (77-72), Dbacks (76-72), and Marlins (76-72) in the tightly contested race for the final National League Wild Card.
SF Giants ace pitcher Logan pitches against the Rockies on September 15, 2023.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Chase Anderson took the mound for the Rockies against the Giants ace and did a surprisingly good job keeping pace. In fact, Anderson completed seven no-hit innings before Rockies manager Bud Black turned things over to the bullpen. Yet despite Anderson's impressive effort, the Rockies trailed 1-0 when he left the game.
The only blemish on Anderson's line came in the top of the second inning. He walked Michael Conforto and LaMonte Wade Jr. to start the second inning, putting himself in a dangerous predicament. While he retired the next three hitters an order, Conforto advanced to third on a fly out by Mitch Haniger and scored on a groundout by Patrick Bailey.
Webb, on the other hand, allowed a single to the first batter he faced (Charlie Blackmon) before settling into his dominance. The Giants righty struck out six across eight innings pitched without issuing a walk, inducing 18 swinging strikes and plenty of soft contact in the process. Granted, he also got some help from his defense.
Brendan Rogers ended a prolonged baserunner drought in the sixth inning with a single before Brenton Doyle blasted a ground ball up the middle. The Rockies easily could have had two runners on base, but instead, Brandon Crawford made an excellent diving play to his left, fielding the grounder before tossing it to Thairo Estrada, covering second base for the force out.
Following the play, Doyle immediately stole second base to give the Rockies their first runner in scoring position of the day. Blackmon hit a scorching ground ball between Wade and Estrada that seemed like it would tie the game. However, Wade dove to his right and fielded the ball cleanly to retire the side and save a run.
Webb was unable to keep the Rockies from scoring for his entire outing, however. Ryan McMahon doubled lead off the eighth inning and scored on an RBI single by Ezequiel Tovar. Tovar advanced to second on an overly aggressive throw by Austin Slater in center field, which put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Webb escaped the inning without letting Colorado take the lead, but things were all tied at one.
Webb has been left out of most National League Cy Young conversations, but without any pitcher clearly ahead of the pack, the Rocklin, California native has a chance to make a formidable case with a strong finish to the season. Entering the day, Webb already led the league in innings pitched and had a better FIP, xFIP, and xERA than consensus Cy Young candidate Blake Snell. After his outing on Friday night, Webb became the first pitcher in the majors to eclipse 200 innings pitched and cut his ERA to 3.31.
Webb has not necessarily dominated in the way pitchers like Snell, Zac Gallen, Justin Steele, or Spencer Strider have at their best this season, but it's hard to ignore Webb's consistency. Even if the Giants' continued inability to give him run support or hold onto leads when he pitches has not let his win-loss record reflect that.
J.D. Davis ended any talk of a combined no-hitter with a lead-off double against Nick Mears to start the ninth inning. Mears struck out Michael Conforto, who was activated from the injured list prior to the game, on a 3-2 fastball, but walked LaMonte Wade Jr. (the clutchest hitter in MLB) to put another runner on base for Mitch Haniger.
Haniger connected on a 3-1 pitch, lining it to right field with a 103.1 mph exit velocity. However, it was caught by Blackmon for the second out of the inning. Bailey kept the rally alive with an infield single, loading the bases for Wilmer Flores, who Giants manager Gabe Kapler deployed as a pinch-hitter for Crawford.
Flores, who has been the Giants best hitter this season, drew a five-pitch walk to drive in a run and break the tie. Black replaced Mears with Matt Koch, who quickly ended the inning.
Giants closer Camilo Doval took the mound with a 2-1 lead in the ninth. Doval surrendered a lead-off double to Blackmon and walked Nolan Jones two batters later. The hard-throwing righty has been able to escape some similar jams this season, but not on Friday.
He allowed a single to Elehuris Montero that was fielded by Mike Yastrzemski in left field. Yaz tried to throw out the tying run at the plate and it was going to be close. However, it drifted a bit too far toward the baseline and bounced off of Blackmon and toward the Rockies dugout. Amidst the chaos, Jones came around to score the walk-off run.
The SF Giants will return to Coors Field tomorrow for a pivotal doubleheader against their division rival. Giants rookie Keaton Winn will start the first game (first pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM Pacific), but Kapler has not revealed a probable starter for the second. Ross Stripling, who was activated off the injured list on Friday, would seem like a leading candidate.
