July 28th 2024.
On a Saturday night in San Francisco, the Giants were on fire as they swept a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies. In the first game, pitcher Blake Snell struck out a career-high 15 batters in just six innings, leading the Giants to a 4-1 victory. In the second game, rookie Hayden Birdsong continued the trend, striking out eight batters over five innings in a 5-0 win.
The first game was a nail-biter, with both teams tied at 1-1 until the seventh inning. That's when Patrick Bailey stepped up to the plate and hit a clutch two-run double, giving the Giants the lead they needed to secure the win. And in the second game, Tyler Fitzgerald showed off his power with his eighth home run in just 10 games.
Snell's performance was especially impressive, as he not only had the most strikeouts in the league this season, but also the most for a six-inning game in baseball history. Giants manager Bob Melvin, who also coached Snell last year in San Diego, praised the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, saying he's "always been kind of a second-half guy."
Snell himself was also pleased with his performance, noting that he's gaining more confidence and making adjustments quicker. He even admitted that he was trying to surpass his previous career-best of 13 strikeouts, which he's achieved four times.
But Snell's success on the mound hasn't translated to wins for the Giants. Despite signing a lucrative contract and being a key player for the team, he's still searching for his first win of the season. However, Melvin is confident that Snell's "forte" is pitching out of tough situations and getting key strikeouts when needed.
As for the looming trade deadline, Snell isn't worried about being dealt as long as the team can string together some wins. And in the first game against the Rockies, they did just that.
The Rockies, on the other hand, struggled to put runs on the board, scoring just one run in each game of the doubleheader. Manager Bud Black expressed frustration with his team's lack of offense, especially after they scored 20 runs earlier in the week against the Red Sox.
The Giants' dominance on the mound was evident in the number of strikeouts they recorded, with a total of 34 over the course of the series. In fact, the Rockies have struck out seven or more times in 20 straight games, the longest active streak in the league.
But the Giants weren't just relying on their pitching. In the second game, Fitzgerald continued his hot streak with another home run, making him the first Giants player since Barry Bonds in 2004 to record seven home runs in an eight-game span. And Mike Yastrzemski added two RBIs to help secure the win.
The Rockies did have a bright spot in shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who extended his hit streak to 14 games. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Giants' dominant performance.
In other news, the Rockies made a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, sending reliever Nick Mears in exchange for two minor league pitchers. And the Giants made some roster moves as well, designating pitcher Mike Baumann for assignment and recalling pitcher Spencer Bivens from Triple-A Sacramento.
As for the next game, the Giants will send out right-hander Jordan Hicks to face off against the Rockies' left-hander Austin Gomber. With their recent wins, the Giants are making a statement that they're not just here to play, but to win.
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