SAN FRANCISCO — Maybe the Giants should bunt more.
San Francisco laid down three perfect ones on Thursday, including two that contributed to a game-breaking three run sixth inning, in a 7-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park.
Johnny Cueto notched 11 strikeouts in his 18th win of the season, but his biggest play came when his second perfect bunt of the night lead to a throwing error by Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado, scoring runners from second and third to give San Francisco a three run lead.
Angel Pagan laid down an impressive one of his own earlier in the inning, advancing Brandon Crawford to third, who himself reached on a throwing error by Colorado starter Jon Grey.
It was a bizarre way to win a game, but not nearly as bizarre as what happened to the other team the Giants are sparring with in the NL wild card race.
The most newsworthy event concerning San Francisco didn’t even take place at AT&T Park on Thursday night, but concerned the truly insane end of the Cardinals, Reds game 2,000 miles away. The Cardinals beat the Reds 4-3 on a walk-off double by Yadier Molina. Well, that’s what technically happened. Molina’s double hit the scoreboard beyond the outfield fence, meaning the play should’ve been scored a ground rule double, and Matt Carpenter who scored from 1st, should’ve had to stop at third base.
The Cincinnati Reds realized this and understandably wanted a review. The only problem was the umpires had already left the field. Apparently the Reds didn’t ask quickly enough.
#MLB clarification, from second talk with umps: The rule at end of game is for an “immediate” challenge by #reds. 10/30 rule doesn’t apply.
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) September 30, 2016
As this was happening, Giants starter Johnny Cueto, making his first start since sustaining groin injury last Wednesday, spotted the Rockies two runs in the first inning, giving up two doubles and a triple while also striking out the side.
It looked like the Giants were well on their way to entering the final series of the season tied with St. Louis for the second wild card spot, a postseason berth far from certain.
Cincinnati Reds manager Brian Prince said it best:
“The San Francisco Giants are gonna be really upset about this.”
The despair was somewhat tempered in the fourth inning, when the Giants ended their 12 inning scoring drought after Buster Posey scored from third on a ground out by Brandon Crawford. Joe Panik then tied the game with an RBI single to left, his 61st of 2016.
Cueto also began to pick up steam as the game wore on, improving the speed on his fastball from 88 to 93 MPH, and notching eight strikeouts through five innings.
Cueto would go on to finish with 11 Ks in seven innings of work. All three Giants starters notched at least 10 strikeouts in the series (Jeff Samardzija – 11, Matt Moore – 11) the first time a San Francisco trio has done that since 1975.
Following Pagan’s bunt in the fifth inning, the Giants nearly spoiled a no out, runners on the corners situation, when Joe Panik’s hard grounder to first base lead to a snap throw to third that nearly caught Crawford out. The play proved to be crucial, as Conor Gillispie gave the Giants a 3-2 lead in the next at bat with a long sacrifice fly.
The Giants scored two insurance runs in the ninth inning, with Colorado reliever Jake McGee walking in a run and a sacrifice fly by Buster Posey.
With three games remaining the Giants continue to sit a game ahead of St. Louis in the second wild card spot and are now just a game behind the first place New York Mets, who had Thursday off.
Save a tiebreaker, the Giants start their final series of the regular season against the Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow, in a matchup between two of the best left handers in baseball. Madison Bumgarner (2.71 ERA) will take the hill in his first appearance against LA since the infamous “don’t look at me” altercation with Yasiel Puig. Rich Hill (2.05 ERA) will make his sixth start since being traded from Oakland. First pitch is at 7:15 on KNBR 680.
