The Giants’ eighth-inning substitutions were dizzying.
J.D. Davis pinch hit for Blake Sabol and Mitch Haniger replaced Brandon Crawford, presumably taking Sabol’s spot in left field. Not too often in the past 13 years have the Giants removed Crawford’s glove during the most heightened late moments.
Then Brett Wisely pinch ran for Davis at second, keeping Schmitt at his natural third base and making up a middle infield with Thairo Estrada. Later, Bryce Johnson ran for Michael Conforto, taking a spot in the outfield for defensive purposes.
Good luck keeping score.
Manager Gabe Kapler’s four moves worked, as the Giants rallied for three runs to break a 4-4 tie in the eighth. Davis and Haniger singled and Joey Bart loaded the bases with a perfectly placed bunt. Then Estrada, San Francisco’s most valuable player, broke the stalemate with a single into shallow center and Wilmer Flores added a two-run single.
Then Camilo Doval, working in his third straight game, earned his 11th save of the season in nail-chattering fashion.
San Francisco’s win came in spite of Ross Stripling’s short start and another shaky performance from Sean Manaea, who has lost his spot in the rotation. Casey Schmitt continued his breakout on both sides of the ball, and the eighth-inning rally secured the sweep with a 7-4 win for the Giants (20-23).
Doval became the first Giant to record three saves in as many days since Will Smith in 2018.
“Camilo wanted this opportunity today, planned that out pregame,” Kapler said after the win.
Before Wednesday’s finale, San Francisco was 4-12 in games that featured either Stripling or Manaea. Against the Phillies, they stacked the two free agent acquisitions on each other and put a trench coat on them.
Stripling allowed three earned runs in 3.1 innings before leaving with low back tightness. Then Manaea allowed a home run in 1.2 innings.
The maligned duo surrendered the Giants’ 4-0 lead they built in the first inning, handing Jakob Junis a 4-4 game after five. Given how they pitched this year, that outcome was far from disastrous.
But they did disqualify an early onslaught from SF’s offense. The Giants jumped on Philadelphia starter Taijuan Walker instantly, knocking him out in the first inning. San Francisco scored four runs on two walks and four singles.
San Francisco batted through the order in that first. Schmitt drove home the first two runs with a floater down the right field line, followed by RBI knocks from Brandon Crawford and Blake Sabol.
In the field, Schmitt tossed a 94.1 mph rocket across the diamond for an assist, which registered as the fasted tracked infield throw of the season. He also added a diving play at third and two more throws over 91 mph for a league-leading five.
The Giants have started Schmitt in all nine of his games since his debut — in nine straight days — toggling him between shortstop, second and his natural spot at third base. The Giants didn’t necessarily plan for that volume, manager Gabe Kapler said pregame, but the rookie has certainly earned it.
Even before his performance Wednesday, Schmitt racked up 0.6 WAR in eight games, already more than Carlos Correa (0.0) had in 39 games.
“There’s a couple factors,” Kapler said of Schmitt’s everyday role. “One, he’s been raking. Taking good, aggressive swings, he’s on the barrel. Seemingly a great defender, or has a chance to be a great defender at both shortstop and second base, while already knowing he’s going to be a great defender at third base. Part of the reason he’s been in there everyday is because he’s been really good and you know the defense is going to be solid. He’s been a fine baserunner for us as well. He’s got a nice all-around game.”
SF’s bullpen, taxed from the game prior, kept Philadelphia stuck at four runs. Jakob Junis struck out the side, but exited in the seventh after surrendering a leadoff single. Scott Alexander relieved him and induced an inning-ending double play.
John Brebbia got through the heart of Philadelphia’s order, setting the tone for the eighth inning rally.
The Giants had Tristan Beck warming up, but they chased the win instead. Flores’ two-out single that scored Wade and Estrada gave Doval some cushion.
Doval, not at his sharpest, hit Josh Harrison with a pitch and walked Bryson Stott to load the bases with two outs. Still, his cutter touched 100.2 and broke the opposite direction of his 99.5 sinker. Even as his pitch count rose into the 20s, his stuff was about as nasty as it is when he’s rested — one of the reasons the Giants were confident in using him.
Doval, seemingly always one for the dramatics, fanned Trea Turner with a slider on the outside corner. The Giants needed Doval every game this series, and he delivered every time.