Giants’ Bullpen blank the MLB-leading Phillies
Spencer Howard #56 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth inning at Oracle Park on May 28, 2024 in San Francisco, California.Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
2024.05.28 – The Giants Bullpen with Spencer Howard pitching four scoreless innings, Luis Matos hits a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and San Francisco blank the MLB-leading Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 on Tuesday night.
After the Phillies failed to score in the top of the 10th off Sean Hjelle (2-1), automatic runner Tyler Fitzgerald advanced to third base on a flyball by Wilmer Flores before Matos knocked him in with a flyball to left off Matt Strahm (3-1).
Five San Francisco pitchers combined to shut down the Phillies for 10 innings. The Giants used an opener followed by Howard as the primary pitcher. For Hjelle, who threw the last two innings, pitchers knew early on that everyone was locked in. He described a contagious feeling of passing on shutout innings from one pitcher to the next.
“We were talking down there early, ‘The boys are locked in,’ ” winning pitcher Hjelle said. “We’re making really good pitches and it’s one of those things where you see the guy in front of you go out there and execute pitches and do it efficiently. I don’t want to be the guy that breaks that up. It’s contagious from the guy in front of you and you take that and pass it to the guy behind you.”
The Giants have won 10 of their last 12 games, taking the first two games of the three-game series against the Phillies after being swept in a four-game set in Philadelphia earlier this month.
“We’re doing a lot of our best work late in the game,” manager Bob Melvin said. “So as long as we have a chance, we feel like we’re going to win the game if it’s late.”
2024.05.28 (Giants vs. Phillies) See Full Highlights
Luis Matos #29 of the San Francisco Giants hits a sacrifice fly that scored the winning run in the 10th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park on May 28, 2024 in San Francisco, California.Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
2024.05.28 (Giants vs. Phillies) See Full Highlights
2024.05.28 (Giants vs. Phillies) See Full Highlights
Philadelphia has lost three straight games for the first time this season, and has the best record in the majors at 38-18.
Howard did what few pitchers have been able to do this season: Keep the Phillies off the board, striking out four over four scoreless innings while hitting 96 mph on his fastball.
He got a little help from a fellow newcomer in an unfamiliar position; shortstop Brett Wisely — who has spent most of his career at second base — looked like a seasoned pro while nabbing J.T. Realmuto as he tried to go from second to third on a Bryce Harper grounder in the sixth to help extinguish one of the Phillies’ few scoring threats.
Howard, who began his career with the Phillies, held his former team to four scoreless innings in his first appearance of the season. He followed three shutout innings by teammates Erik Miller and Taylor Rogers to start the game. Howard, once a top prospect, has bounced around the last few seasons and signed a minor league contract with the Giants last year.
Howard said he tried not to be spiteful and that it was nice to pitch against familiar batters.
“Just trying to make them hit the ball,” Howard said. “The most value I could provide is to eat the most amount of innings and save the pen — however it may be.”
2024.05.28 – Giants vs. Phillies (NBC Sports – Post Recap)
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, left, tags out Philadelphia Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto at third during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press
2024.05.28 – Giants vs. Phillies (NBC Sports – Post Recap)
2024.05.28 – Giants vs. Phillies (NBC Sports – Post Recap)
Phillies starter Zack Wheeler threw 101 pitches, striking out nine and allowing two hits. Once a highly-touted prospect in the Giants’ organization, Wheeler has held San Francisco to one unearned run in two starts this season. He struck out 11 in seven innings in a 1-0 win in Philadelphia on May 6.
The Giants learned before the game that they would be without one of their best hitters this season, LaMonte Wade Jr., for an extended stretch. Wade suffered a grade 2 hamstring strain sliding into second base on Monday and will miss at least four weeks.
Philles third baseman Alec Bohm had a scheduled day off after committing two errors in Monday’s loss, according to manager Rob Thomson. Bohm was dealing with “general aches and pains” and pinch-hit in the 10th.
2024.05.28 – Giants vs. Phillies (Locked On Post Game)
Tylor Rogers #71 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth inning at Oracle Park on May 28, 2024 in San Francisco, California.Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
2024.05.28 – Giants vs. Phillies (Locked On Post Game)
2024.05.28 – Giants vs. Phillies (Locked On Post Game)
Thomson said before the game that he trusts the team’s defense and that Bohm sitting was not due to the defensive miscues. Bohm has four errors in his last seven games at third.
“That was just a weird game yesterday,” Thomson said. “He’s played really consistent. He’s really improved. I have no problems with him.”
Philadelphia still owns MLB’s best record, but has lost three straight.
The Giants will go for the sweep on Wednesday afternoon before welcoming another tough team, the New York Yankees on Friday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: SS Trea Turner, who has a strained left hamstring, hit off a tee for the first time since the injury on Tuesday and hopes to play catch on Wednesday.
Giants: Howard and IF Trenton Brooks were called up from Triple-A Sacramento, with Brooks filling in for Wade at first base and Howard pitching out of the bullpen. … Utility player Tyler Fitzgerald was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento. … OF Ryan McKenna and LHP Drew Pomeranz were designated for assignment. … RHP Keaton Winn threw 45 pitches in a bullpen session on Monday and is close to returning, according to Melvin.
UP NEXT
LHP Kyle Harrison (4-1, 3.90 ERA) pitches for the Giants against Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez (2-3, 3.15 ERA) in the final game of the series.
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