The Giants flew Mike Ford out from his home in Tampa Bay to San Francisco and activated him after the first baseman landed around 9:30 a.m.. Ford, who was designated for assignment by the Mariners, hadn’t played in the bigs since last June.
That’s how desperate the Giants are for some left-handed hitting production.
But even with a CVS receipt-sized list of unavailable position players — Evan Longoria, Tommy La Stella, Mike Yastrzemski, Brandon Belt, LaMonte Wade Jr., Steven Duggar and Joc Pederson — the Giants (14-7) pulled away with a convincing 9-3 win.
Starter Logan Webb allowed a career-high 11 hits, but still limited Washington to three runs in six innings. The four lefties in the starting lineup combined to score five of San Francisco’s nine runs, including Jason Vosler’s splash home run.
San Francisco’s depleted roster should, theoretically, shrink its margin for error. Perhaps third base coach Mark Hallberg sent Wilmer Flores home from first on a throwing error knowing the Giants might need to steal some cheap runs. Perhaps the overturned call that took away a Nationals run in the third inning meant even more in the moment than it normally would have.
Against right-handed starter Joan Adon, the Giants were only able to stack four left-handed hitters in the lineup. One of which was Jason Krizan, making his second MLB start, and fringe major leaguers Jason Vosler and Luis González were two more. SF had only hit the first time through the order.
Then Thairo Estrada turned a 2-0 deficit into a tie ballgame with a two-run double into the left-center gap. The third-inning pop was just Estrada’s first example of quality situational hitting.
Two innings later, Estrada made sure a bases-loaded, no-outs situation didn’t go to waste. He hit into a fielder’s choice but sprinted down the first base line just quickly enough to reach safely. A double play would’ve ended the inning without any damage. Instead, a run scored and then Mauricio Dubón drove in another while pinch-hitting for Krizan.
All the while, Webb hung in despite not having the sharpest of days. The Nats kept piling on all sorts of hits, but Webb made sure to scatter them to reduce damage. Washington finally chased him out after the sixth inning in which he allowed a third run on two more hits. He finished the inning after a mound visit from Gabe Kapler.
Still, the deficit was cut to one. Not much for San Francisco to play with. Then one of those four left-handed batters, Vosler, cranked the team’s first splash hit of the season. It was his second homer of the year and first ever into McCovey Cove.
The Giants followed up their first splash hit since LaMonte Wade Jr.’s last September with three more runs. They finally earned a cushion.
SF’s margin for error didn’t seem as small with a five-run lead. José Álvarez ordered up a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Luke Williams made an impact on the base paths and John Brebbia made quick work of the eighth. Mauricio Llovera closed up shop in the ninth.
San Francisco’s depleted roster inspired one Twitter user to call it the Sac Franmento River Giants. Most casual Giants fans probably haven’t had many dinner table discussions about Williams, Llovera, Vosler, Dubón, Krizan, González or even Estrada. That doesn’t mean they can’t play.
The roster attrition will also ease up in the coming days. Alex Cobb is set to return from the injured list and start Sunday. LaMonte Wade Jr. could come back for the Dodgers series starting Tuesday. Mike Yastrzemski’s bout with COVID is on the mend.
Every club deals with injuries — and, for the past couple years, positive cases. That doesn’t mean winning games with a less-than full squad isn’t impressive. Saturday’s victory sets up a possible series win on Sunday, with Cobb taking the bump.
After all, as the Giants will remind you, that’s the name of the game: winning the series.
