Everything that could go wrong in today’s game did, and did so early.
The San Francisco Giants got thumped by the Philadelphia Phillies today, losing 14-3.
It was Murphy’s Law in action during today’s game, in that anything that could go wrong did go wrong, and early.
It started with a rain delay, but even after that, the conditions weren’t good for either team, with it raining to the point of fans questioning if it was in anyone’s best interest for the game to be being played at all. But play they did.
Starting pitcher Keaton Winn got roughed up from the start, and was pulled in the first inning after allowing five runs on four hits and two walks. This brought in Mitch White, who had no better luck, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks in two and a third innings.
Worse, still, after losing Patrick Bailey to the concussion IL, the Giants lost Tom Murphy in the second inning. It was at first unclear what the issue was, but later in the game it was announced that he was being evaluated for a left knee injury.
(Postgame edit: Adding an update on Murphy.)
Tom Murphy felt a pop in his knee while blocking the ball, not while chasing after it. MRI tomorrow, but it doesn’t look good. Asked whether wet conditions contributed, he said, “Big time.” Should they have started the game in the rain? “Probably not.”
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) May 5, 2024
So Blake Sabol, who flew out to Philadelphia on a red-eye flight ended up coming into the game almost from the start.
One bright spot from the game was the debut of reliever Randy Rodríguez. He entered after White, and got his first career strikeout against Bryce Harper. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to avoid the maelstrom of the Phillies’ offense. After two and a third innings without allowing a run, Rodríguez would ultimately also get rung for four runs (three earned), two of which were knocked in after he was pulled from the game for Luke Jackson in the sixth.
To add more injury to insult, Blake Sabol left that inning limping, and then Austin Slater got pelted by a pitch in the seventh (though both stayed in the game). If any of the Giants make it out of this series intact, both physically and mentally, I’ll be shocked.
Erik Miller entered to start the bottom of the seventh and immediately allowed a first pitch home run to Whit Merrifield. And honestly, the game should have been mercy-ruled at this point.
But the game was not without its notable moments. Tyler Fitzgerald, who was on standby to be the emergency catcher, ended up pitching the eighth inning instead. And he will go down as the only Giants pitcher of the game to not give up a run (either his own or someone else’s), getting three quick outs.
Also, Wilmer Flores hit his first home run of the season. That was a nice moment as well.
It wasn’t like the Giants were completely lacking any offense, to clarify. They had plenty of opportunities with 10 hits and three walks. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to hit when it counted. At one point in the top of the eighth inning, they had the bases loaded with one out, and I said “Ah, so a double play then” and almost immediately after that, that’s exactly what happened.
Meanwhile Giants pitching allowed 12 hits, 10 walks and had sloppy defense behind them, so the Phillies almost had to try not to score.
As long-time member of the McCoven Natto said on Twitter:
Let us never speak of that game again.
— Natto (@natt0) May 5, 2024