SF Giants Press Clips Monday, August 14, 2017sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/documents/4/1/6/248364416/8... · 2018-09-29 · Scherzer struck out at least 10 batters for the 62nd time

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SF Giants Press Clips

Monday, August 14, 2017

San Francisco Chronicle

After Stratton wins opener, grand slam then beats Giants

John Shea

WASHINGTON — Joe Panik played all 20 innings Sunday and would have been excused for

exiting after 13.

The Giants’ second baseman was shaken when clobbered on the head on a strange play in

which he and the ball simultaneously arrived at the plate in the second game of a day-night

doubleheader.

The Giants are going nowhere this season. A concussion derailed Panik’s 2016 season. Yet he

stuck around and wound up reaching base seven times in 10 plate appearances. Despite the

effort, the Giants dropped the nightcap 6-2 in 11 innings to the Nationals and finished the day

with a split.

In the opener, the Giants’ Chris Stratton made his third big-league start and pitched 62/3

scoreless innings in a 4-2 victory.

“All the (concussion) issues I had last year, they’re nonexistent right now,” Panik said. “You

never know what could happen moving forward, waking up the next morning, but right now,

I’m good to go.”

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Panik, who homered in Saturday night’s series opener, went 3-for-4 with a walk in Sunday’s first

game and 2-for-4 with a walk in the second. He drove in half of the Giants’ six runs.

The only time Panik had a chance to score, in the fourth inning of the nightcap, he got drilled.

He doubled, moving Denard Span to third. Span scored on Hunter Pence’s single, and Panik

tried to do so as well. But three mighty forces — outfielder Michael A. Taylor’s throw, catcher

Matt Wieters’ mitt and Panik’s face — converged, and Panik was out.

He said he didn’t know if the ball first hit him on the side of the face or his helmet. Either way, it

knocked out his left contact, and he stayed on the ground a few moments.

Last year, Panik was beaned (by then-Tampa Bay pitcher Matt Moore) but played another week

and a half before spending a month on the concussion disabled list. He returned to hit .215 the

final 57 games and didn’t fully recover until the winter.

On Sunday, Panik passed the concussion protocol — even wagging his finger in front of his eyes

while on the field — and said he feels nothing like he felt last year and will be more cautious

this time.

“I’m going to keep monitoring it and be more honest,” he said.

The Nationals won the nightcap on Howie Kendrick’s walk-off grand slam off Albert Suarez, who

gave up singles to Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman and intentionally walked Anthony

Rendon.

Moore pitched seven innings to match Max Scherzer, a two-time Cy Young Award winner,

giving up solo homers to Murphy and Zimmerman. Pablo Sandoval hit a homer to the upper

deck, his first since returning to the Giants, to tie the score 2-2.

Moore, who entered with a majors-worst 5.88 ERA, said things he worked on panned out.

“It’s not so much mechanical as much as pace and effort,” he said. “I think at times, I grip the

ball a little too tight and try to force something instead of allow it to happen.”

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Scherzer struck out at least 10 batters for the 62nd time in his career. In the opener, Stratton

did it for the first time. The only batter he walked was his last one. He threw 109 pitches and

scattered five hits, not more than one in an inning.

“I’m getting a little older now,” said Stratton, the Giants’ top draft pick in 2012 who turns 27 on

Aug. 22. “There have been ups and downs, and I’ve been through a lot of it. A lot of it prepared

me for days like today. You have to stay levelheaded because this game can humble you real

quick.”

Manager Bruce Bochy said all four of Stratton’s pitches work in the majors.

“It’s about commanding the ball and having the confidence you can pitch up here,” Bochy said.

“Hopefully, this is a game he realizes how good his stuff is and his pitchability up here.”

Hunter Strickland pitched in both games and got booed in both by fans recalling his May 29

brawl with Bryce Harper. Strickland gave up a two-run homer to Rendon in the opener and

pitched a scoreless ninth in the nightcap.


Nationals’ fans boo, cheer appearance by Strickland

John Shea

WASHINGTON — When Hunter Strickland was introduced and headed from the bullpen to

pitch the eighth inning of Sunday’s doubleheader opener, thunderous boos echoed throughout

Nationals Park.

It was the fans’ way of welcoming the Giants’ pitcher who brawled with Bryce Harper on May

29.

“I don’t blame them,” Strickland said. “They’re obviously pulling for him and don’t like how it

went down last time. I don’t expect anything different.”

Manager Bruce Bochy jokingly said he did.

“I had said standing ovation,” Bochy said. “I was a little surprised.”

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The Giants led 4-0 when Bochy summoned Strickland, and the boos turned to cheers

when Brian Goodwin reached on an infield single and Anthony Rendon smacked a two-run

homer — just the third homer Strickland yielded this year.

Strickland pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the nightcap. His appearances came one night

after Harper’s frightening fall at first base left him with a hyperextended left knee and serious

bone bruise on the inner portion of the knee. The injury wasn’t as bad as feared, and the

Nationals said it’s possible Harper will play again this season.

“That’s huge. That’s huge for them. Huge for him in his career,” Strickland said. “You obviously

don’t wish an injury on anybody, no matter what the situation is. That’s definitely good news

for both parties.”

Bochy, who knows what it’s like to miss a superstar for an extensive period of time —

see Buster Posey, 2011, among other examples — was relieved to hear the Harper update.

“You hate to see it, especially with the team in their situation,” Bochy said. “We’ve been there.

It’s something you have to overcome. They still have a great heart of the order, but that’s great

news for them.”

Briefly : Pablo Sandoval hit his first home run with the Giants since Sept. 5, 2014, an upper-

deck shot off Max Scherzer. “It’s special, especially because it tied the game.” ... Sunday’s two

games lasted 20 innings and 6 hours and 40 minutes with a long break in between. “It was a

long day at the office,” said Sandoval, who played every inning. “I’ve been out a long time. I’m

fresh. I wanted to give a break to guys who needed it.” ... Actually, three games were played

Sunday because Saturday’s lasted past midnight. A total of 29 innings were played in just more

than 24 hours. ... Bochy and Dusty Baker each picked up his 1,836th career win as a manager,

one ahead of Lou Piniella on the all-time list.

John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer.

Leading off

One more: The Giants recalled infielder Orlando Calixte as their 26th man for the

doubleheader. The Nationals called up catcher Pedro Severino.

— John Shea

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On deck

Monday

at Marlins

4:10 p.m. NBCSBA

Blach (8-7) vs.

Conley (4-5)

Tuesday

at Marlins

4:10 p.m. NBCSBA

Bumgarner (2-5) vs. Straily (7-8)

Wednesday

at Marlins

10:10 a.m. NBCSBA

TBA vs.

Ureña (10-5)


Giants’ baseball marathon: 3 games in 24 hours

John Shea

WASHINGTON — The Giants’ baseball marathon resumes with Sunday’s day game at Nationals

Park, the second of three games in a 24-hour span.

That counts Saturday night’s series opener that was delayed 3 hours and started at 7:05 p.m. on

the West Coast. The times for Sunday’s day-night double-header are 10:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m.

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It’s the Giants’ first twinbill since May 23, 205, when they split at Coors Field.

Their last sweep: April 23, 2012 against the Mets in New York.

The last time they got swept: June 1, 2013, at St. Louis.

***

Chris Stratton is pitching Sunday’s opener, Matt Moore the nightccap. Stratton might wonder

what it’s like to get a normal amount of notice before taking the mound.

His first start, he was a late sub for Johnny Cueto. His second, he filled in for Matt Cain. This

time, he was scheduled to start Friday, but the game was rained out and Stratton was bumped

two days so Jeff Samardzija could pitch Saturday on normal rest.

The Nationals are starting A.J. Cole in the opener and ace Max Scherzer in the nightcap.

***

The Nationals received good news on the Bryce Harper front: No structural damage in his left

knee, no ligament or tendon damage.

The All-Star right fielder, as a result of Saturday’s fall at first base and hyperextension of his leg,

sustained a significant bone bruise on the inside portion of the knee.

Based on examinations and results of an MRI, the team said it’s possible Harper will play again

this season, which prompted a sigh of relief throughout the clubhouse, front office and fan

base. Everyone feared far worse.

Replacing Harper on the roster: Michael Taylor, who came off the disabled list.

***

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Both teams were able to call up a 26th player for the doubleheader, and both chose hitters

over pitchers: Orlando Calixte for the Giants and Pedro Severino for the Nationals.

***

Game 1 lineups:

Giants: 2B Panik, SS Crawford, LF Parker, 3B Sandoval, C Hundley, 1B Jones, RF Moncrief, CF

Hernandez, RH Stratton.

Nationals: RF Goodwin, 2B Sanchez, 3B Rendon, 1B Zimmerman, LF Lind, SS Difo, CF Stevenson,

C Lobaton, RH Cole.

San Jose Mercury News

Giants’ Joe Panik feeling OK after scary blow to the helmet

Andrew Baggarly

WASHINGTON – It is usually not a good sign when a second baseman gives himself concussion

tests while standing at his position in the middle of a major league game.

Especially when that player, Joe Panik, spent a month last season on the concussion DL.

Panik held out an index finger and tracked his peripheral vision in Game 2 of Sundays’

doubleheader, one inning after he was struck in the side of the helmet by a throw to the plate.

ADVERTISING

In keeping with the Giants’ misfortunes this season, Nationals catcher Matt Wieters trapped the

ball against Panik’s helmet and somehow found a way to tag him out.

But the club might be fortunate in the overall analysis. Panik said he passed the actual

concussion protocol after the Giants’ 6-2, 11-inning loss in Game 2 of their doubleheader at

Nationals Park, and he expected to be all right.

“All the issues I had last year and nonexistent right now,” Panik said. “You never know what can

happen, and we’ll continue to monitor it. But right now, I’m good to go.”

Panik missed a month last season after he was struck by a pitch in the head from then-Rays left-

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hander and current teammate Matt Moore. Panik hit a home run later in that game at

Tropicana Field, and didn’t go on the DL until a week later. But he said he wasn’t being fully

honest with trainers as he tried to play through symptoms.

Because he is all too familiar with some of the tests, he began to administer a few to himself

during Sunday’s game. Afterward, he passed the actual balance and vision tests.

“I feel like I took a punch, but I’m all right,” he said.

Panik was trying to score from second base on Hunter Pence’s single when the throw from

Nationals center fielder Michael A. Taylor was up the line. Replays appeared to show that it hit

Panik’s helmet first.

“Honestly, I couldn’t tell you,” he said. “I’m sliding in and all of the sudden, I’ feeling a force to

my head and I’m on the ground.”

The impact knocked a contact lens out of Panik’s eye. He had to go back to the clubhouse

quickly to put in a new one.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Panik, who reported a mild headache after the game, would

get a pre-planned day off Monday in Miami.


Sandoval’s first homer in Giants second act isn’t enough as Nationals earn doubleheader split

Andrew Baggarly

WASHINGTON – The Giants could not begin their three-game weekend series at rain-soaked

Nationals Park until after 10 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday.

By the time the earth completed its rotational axis, the two teams had wedged 27 ½ innings

into 24 hours. And then, because they couldn’t decide matters in Game 2 of Sunday’s

doubleheader, they played some more.

The Nationals claimed a 6-2 victory and a doubleheader split on Sunday when Howie Kendrick

hit a grand slam in the 11th inning off Albert Suarez, and we can only hope that Lou Piniella

didn’t sit at home and watch both games.

That’s because Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker both passed Piniella for 14th place on the all-time

managerial victory list. Bochy claimed his 1,836th win with the Giants’ 4-2 victory in Game 1,

and Baker matched him in Game 2.

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Of the 13 managers ahead of them, only Gene Mauch is not in the Hall of Fame.

“Dusty and I have gone against each other quite awhile,” Bochy said prior to the series opener

here. “We enjoy our battles and we’ve been competitive against each other. I have tremendous

respect for Dusty, with of course, what he did in San Francisco and Chicago. I enjoy talking to

him.”

Even if Baker ends up zooming ahead on the all-time list later this season, there is no catching

Bochy in another respect. Although it went unnoticed at the time, the Giants’ third win of the

year in April pushed Bochy past Baker’s 840 victories with the Giants and into second place on

the all-time franchise list for managerial wins. (Hall of Famer John McGraw is uncatchable with

2,583 victories.)

The Giants received enough key contributions to sweep the doubleheader: Pablo Sandoval hit

his first home run as a Giant in almost three years, and the pitcher with the NL’s most bloated

ERA matched the Nationals ace who is likely to win the NL Cy Young Award.

Matt Moore pitched well on the road against a threat-filled lineup and little margin for error,

holding the Nationals to two runs while striking out nine in seven innings.

It was an odd start at times. Moore didn’t walk a batter, and yet twice he lost curveballs that

spun out of his fingertips and soared like an approach wedge to the backstop.

Those were not the two pitches he most wanted back, though. Daniel Murphy hit a home run

on a two-strike pitch in the third inning, Ryan Zimmerman pounded a fastball into the stands in

the sixth.

“I didn’t overthrow like I was trying to be `the guy’ or something,” Moore said. “At times I

gripped the ball too tight instead of allowing it to happen. Getting more swings through my

fastball was telling me that I’m disguising pitches.”

Moore hung tough with Scherzer, who struck out 10 in seven innings, and Sandoval provided

one prodigious equalizer in the seventh when he drove Scherzer’s fastball into the upper deck.

Sandoval’s shot was his first homer as a Giant since Sept. 5, 2014, in an interleague game at

Detroit. It was classic Panda, too. Scherzer tried to jam him inside and up with a fastball, and

Sandoval turned on it, sending the high drive just inside the right field pole.

“I have to prove a lot to my teammates and the coaching staff, everybody,” Sandoval said. “I

just want to have great at-bats. … It’s special. It’s special to tie the game.”

Bochy said Sandoval lobbied to play both ends of the doubleheader.

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“Why? I’ve been out a long time,” he said. “I’m fresh. I’m just giving the break to guys who need

it. I was ready. I’m healthy. Why not play both games?”

The home run took Moore off the hook for a loss, and the Giants bullpen held serve for a time.

Hunter Strickland appeared for the second time Sunday and struck out Anthony Rendon, who

had taken him deep in Game 1. Suarez flashed 96 mph heat in a scoreless 10th inning.

But Suarez gave up consecutive singles to Murphy and Zimmermann to start the 11th, with

Murphy making a great read on a blooper up the middle as he went from first third. After an

intentional walk to Rendon set up the force at the plate, Kendrick connected and the powerless

and tired Giants outfielders merely trudged in the opposite direction back to the dugout.

“It’s three games in one day,” Bochy said. “I can’t remember the last time we’ve done this. But

I’m proud of them. They battled. We’re so close to taking this series.

“These are three long days, and it’s not over. We’ll probably get in Miami at 4 in the morning.

So we’ll have to toughen up here and get ready for tomorrow.”

—

Joe Panik nearly scored the go-ahead run in the fourth inning but was tagged out while

simultaneously getting hit in the helmet by a throw to the plate. Read the update on Panik

here.

—

Jarrett Parker started Game 2 against Scherzer, the NL’s leading strikeout artist, even though he

went 0 for 5, with four strikeouts in Game 1.

The results weren’t hard to predict. Parker went 0 for 4 and Scherzer struck him out twice.

Parker thus joined Dave Kingman and Bobby Bonds as the only Giants in the San Francisco era

to strike out six times in one day. Kingman had a pair of three-strikeout games in a

doubleheader against the Astros on Aug. 6, 1972; Bonds had a four-strikeout and a two-

strikeout game against the Astros on Sept. 15, 1971. Both of those doubleheaders were at

Candlestick Park.

Kelby Tomlinson, who hit a pinch sacrifice fly in Game 1, had a rough day as well. He went 0 for

4 with four strikeouts in Game 2.

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Strickland booed but Stratton shines for Giants in Game 1 victory over Nationals

Andrew Baggarly

WASHINGTON – Most of Chris Stratton’s 13 major league appearances have involved a similar

set of circumstances:

A doubleheader. An exhausted bullpen. A surprise spot start. Maybe an extra-inning game the

night before. An ungodly early wakeup call in Sacramento or Fresno or who knows where in the

Pacific Coast League, with orders to meet the big league club. And, no matter how he fared on

the mound while sopping up innings, the high probability of an immediate ticket back to Triple-

A.

But this is not the same Giants team and, more significantly, Stratton is not the same pitcher.

He still has minor league options. This time, though, he will stay awhile.

The Giants will give Stratton a chance to carve out a place in the rotation down the stretch, and

he made the most of his opportunity in Game 1 of Sunday’s split doubleheader at Nationals

Park. The quiet right-hander with the basic-training haircut buzzed through the Nationals lineup

in the Giants’ 4-2 victory, striking out 10 while throwing 6 2/3 shutout innings.

“It’s kind of been weird so far,” Stratton said. “You’ve just got to be ready for whatever, and

stay locked in.”

The shutout ended in the eighth to delirious cheers at Nationals Park when Anthony Rendon

clocked a two-run home run against Hunter Strickland, whom the crowd greeted like Snidely

Whiplash when he made his first appearance of the series.

Strickland, of course, threw the pitch that beaned Bryce Harper on May 29 and sent fists flying

at AT&T Park. There’s no chance that the two will cross paths again in this series, now that

Harper is on the disabled list with a “significant bone bruise” in his left knee that he sustained

Saturday night while slipping on a wet base.

But the crowd didn’t miss the chance to let Strickland have it as he jogged to the mound in the

eighth, and the boos amplified when he was announced.

“I said standing ovation, was what he was going to get,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said,

holding his deadpan. “So I was a little surprised. But no, I’m sure (the boos) are what he was

expecting, too.”

It was.

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“I don’t blame them,” Strickland said. “They’re obviously pulling for him. They didn’t like how it

went down the first time. I don’t expect anything different.”

Strickland might have taken aim at Harper 2 ½ months ago, but even he expressed relief that

the Nationals’ star player did not sustain tendon or ligament damage that would erase his

chance at competing in October.

“I mean, that’s huge,” Strickland said. “It’s huge for them, huge for him in his career. Obviously,

you don’t wish an injury on anybody no matter the situation. That’s good news for all parties.”

Rendon’s homer was just the third Strickland has allowed this season, although it wasn’t wholly

unexpected. Emotional situations tend to work better than a steam iron at straightening out

the right-hander’s fastball.

But Strickland got through the eighth, and Sam Dyson handled the ninth to protect Stratton’s

second major league victory.

Stratton used a four-pitch mix that included a dial-breaking curve and sharp slider to hold the

Nationals to five hits while walking just one batter. But that doesn’t begin to describe the level

of dominance he achieved against a beefy lineup.

Not only did Stratton become the first Giants pitcher this season to record double-digit

strikeouts without yielding a run in a start of at least six innings, but it was just the 12th such

start over the past five years. Madison Bumgarner owns eight of them, Johnny Cueto owns one

and the others were Chris Heston’s no-hitter against the Mets in 2015 and Tim Lincecum’s no-

hitter against the Padres in 2013.

“That’s something that should do so much for his confidence,” Bochy said. “He’s got the stuff.

He’s got the movement. He holds runners. It was a really good day for him.

“I thought he really made some nice pitches with two strikes. They were just below the zone,

catching the plate to where they were chasing. That’s been an area for us.”

Getting off to fast starts has been an area for the Giants this season, too. It might be turning

around.

You couldn’t blame both teams for sleepwalking through the first game Sunday, after

Saturday’s rain-delayed contest ended at 1:16 a.m. EDT. But the Giants had perfect player

attendance on the early bus from their hotel and they came out swinging. Gorkys Hernandez hit

an RBI single in the second inning and Joe Panik followed with a two-run single to right field –

the first of his three hits — as the Giants handed Stratton an early lead.

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The Giants added a run on Kelby Tomlinson’s pinch sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Stratton, 26, wasn’t fast-tracked after the Giants spent a first-round pick (20th overall) on hi out

of Mississippi State in 2012. He was a late bloomer who wasn’t even drafted out of high school

but threw explosive stuff to rise from a middle reliever to the SEC pitcher of the year in his

junior season.

His stuff came and went in the minor leagues, too. He had a 5.11 ERA in 15 starts for Triple-A

Sacramento this season. But when he was on, he had some of the River Cats’ most dominant

games of the season.

The Giants didn’t treat him like a typical first-round pick. They didn’t build a soft nest for his

debut in the hopes he would never see the minor leagues again after getting called up. They

used him less like a premium prospect and more like a gauze pad.

His two earlier starts this season came when he made a last-minute assignment for Cueto on

short notice, and another that was disrupted when long-winded speeches made by the 1997 NL

West-winning players made a pregame ceremony ran long. Stratton sat in the dugout for 20

minutes, trying to keep his mind right.

When the Giants needed a roster spot on short notice at the end of July, it was Stratton who

magically came up with a calf injury that required a trip to the disabled list.

His calf obviously not an issue now, if it ever was.

“Even when I was telling him the situation with the rainout, he’s got a sense of calmness about

him,” Bochy said. “You look at a guy who’s got four pitches that work in the major leagues,”

Bochy said. “Hopefully he realizes how good his stuff is and what his pitchability is in the major

leagues.”

But even after dominating the Nationals, he can’t say for sure when his next start will come.

The Giants could fold him back into the rotation on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

The Giants will give him a chance to strive for consistency in August and September, with Cueto

barely beginning to test his flexor strain by playing catch and Matt Cain being a good soldier in a

long relief role.

“All you can hope for is an opportunity,” Stratton said. “I’m getting a little older and I’ve been

through the ups and downs. I think that’s prepared me for today to stay level headed. This

game can humble you real quick.

“Now this is done and you get ready for the next one.”

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—

Panik, Pablo Sandoval, Ryder Jones and Jarrett Parker will pull double duty in Game 2 and start

against right-hander Max Scherzer.

Parker will face one of the NL’s top pitchers after going 0 for 5 with four strikeouts in Game 1.

Either he’s due, or it’s going to end up being the longest of days for him.

The lineup:

CF Span, 2B Panik, RF Pence, C Posey, 3B Sandoval, 1B Jones, LF Parker, SS Tomlinson, LHP

Moore.


Giants Notes

Andrew Baggarly

WASHINGTON – The Nationals avoided the worst possible news on Bryce Harper.

The morning after Harper slipped on a wet base, hyperextended his left knee and crumpled to

the dirt in pain, the Nationals announced that he has been diagnosed with a “significant” bone

bruise.

Harper is on the 10-day disabled list, but his immediate availability is not the question for a

team that holds a 14 ½-game lead in the NL East. Getting back their best player for the

postseason is all that matters.

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told reporters that an MRI exam showed no tendon or ligament

damage, “which is pretty remarkable in my mind, just seeing the type of injury he had.”

The Nationals activated outfielder Michael A. Taylor from the DL to replace Harper on the

roster. (Taylor had missed a month with a right oblique strain.) They also recalled catcher Pedro

Severino to be their 26th man for Sunday’s split-admission doubleheader.

The Giants recalled utilityman Orlando Calixte to be their extra man. Games start at 10:05 a.m.

PDT and 4:05 p.m. PDT.

Buster Posey and Hunter Pence will rest in Game 1 as Bruce Bochy goes left-heavy against right-

hander A.J. Cole. It’ll be Matt Moore and right-hander Max Scherzer in the nightcap.

Lineups:

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MLB.com

Stratton superb as Giants take twin-bill opener

Jamal Collier and Daniel Shiferaw

WASHINGTON -- Chris Stratton was originally scheduled to start Friday night before

thunderstorms washed away that game and the Giants reshuffled their rotation, pushing his

third career start to Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park.

And it ended up being his best performance as he spun 6 2/3 scoreless innings with 10

strikeouts to help the Giants beat the Nationals, 4-2, in Game 1 of Sunday's split doubleheader.

It was the first double-digit strikeout performance of Stratton's Major League career and just

the fifth time this season a Giants pitcher has recorded 10 or more strikeouts in a game.

Full Game Coverage

"He really threw some nice pitches with two strikes. He had a good curveball going, a good

slider and changeup," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Stratton, who earned his first career

win as a starter. "He really stayed in command against a very good hitting ballclub. That's

something that should do so much for his confidence."

He held one of MLB's top-ranked offenses in check, even though the Nationals found out earlier

Sunday morning that they would be without slugger Bryce Harper for the foreseeable future,

after an MRI revealed a bone bruise in his left knee. Washington managed just five hits, all

singles, against Stratton.

"[Stratton] was just mixing well," Nats outfielder Andrew Stevenson said. "His fastball was

running good, his changeup and curveball he could throw for strikes. Slider had command when

he needed it, just keeping people off balance. When you have a four-pitch mix, you can do that

and be successful."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Strickland takes the mound at Nationals Park: As Giants right-hander Hunter Strickland made

his way from the bullpen, the Nationals fans in attendance greeted him with voracious boos. It

was his first appearance in Washington since he hit Harper in the hip in May, inciting a benches-

clearing fracas as Harper charged the mound. And the crowd erupted as Anthony

Rendon hammered a two-run homer against Strickland, providing the Nationals with their lone

offensive spark of the game.

"I said [it would be] a standing ovation I thought he was going to get, so I was a little surprised,"

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Bochy said jokingly about the reception Strickland got from Nats fans. "I'm sure [getting booed]

is what he expected."

Hernandez sparks Giants offense: All the offense the Giants would need for the day came in

their three-run second inning off Nats starter A.J. Cole, sparked by Gorkys Hernandez's one-out

RBI single to right field, which was followed by Joe Panik's two-run single. Hernandez finished

the game 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, continuing his upward trend since the All-Star break,

posting a slash line of .321/.370/.417.

"Panik and Hernandez [and] the back end of our order set that up," Bochy said. "Those things

win ballgames for you, and we've been missing that a lot this year."

Those three runs were all that Cole, making perhaps his final start in place of the

injured Stephen Strasburg, surrendered as he allowed three runs in six innings while striking

out a season-high six batters.

"I was feeling pretty good," Cole said. "I still got to work on when I get those two strikes [to] put

them away. I keep giving them those easy pitches right over the middle, not making them work

for it."

INJURY REPORT

Nationals outfielder Brian Goodwin left the game in the top of the ninth inning, after feeling

tightness in his groin while running the bases in the eighth inning.

"We didn't want to take any chances," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said after the game.

"They're working on him now. They're going to evaluate it. Boy, it's getting tough. I'm glad

we've got bodies and quality players."

It is the latest injury to the Nationals, especially in the outfield where they have used 12 players

already this season. Washington did receive good news on Harper earlier Sunday after the team

feared the worst when he injured himself Saturday night. Harper was in good spirits between

games as he gave an update on his injury, and although he did not offer up a timetable, he

believes he will return this season.

"It's just a freak accident, freak situation," Harper said. "I think [the season] flashed before your

eyes and then you realize there's nothing you can do. It's part of the game, it's part of sports. I

mean, you just try to hope for the best and pray for the best. I think we got the best possible

17

news that we could."

REPLAY REVIEW

In the top of the eighth inning, the Giants challenged the call that Ryder Jones was out at first

base on a force play. After a one minute, 17-second review, the call was overturned as it was

determined that Jones' foot touched the bag before the ball was caught by first baseman Ryan

Zimmerman.

WHAT'S NEXT

Giants: The Giants will send left hander Matt Moore to the mound for the second game of

Sunday's twin bill, which starts at 4:05 p.m. PT. The 28-year-old has been charged with a loss in

five of his last eight starts, so he'll be looking to notch a "W" for the first time since June 20.

Nationals: Max Scherzer will start the nightcap of Sunday's split doubleheader with the Giants.

Perhaps his best outing of the season came in San Francisco earlier this season when Scherzer

threw a complete game where he allowed one run and struck out 11. First pitch Sunday is at

7:05 p.m. ET.

MLB.com

Moore K’s 9, but Giants fall in 11 innings

Jamal Collier and Daniel Shiferaw

WASHINGTON -- In what had been a marathon 24 hours for the Giants and Nationals, which

included long rain delays, Washington losing its MVP candidate to the disabled list and a three-

game series played in the span of about a day at Nationals Park, Howie Kendrick capped off the

nightcap of Sunday's split doubleheader against the Giants with a walk-off grand slam in the

11th inning to give the Nationals a 6-2 victory to cap off this series.

"Long day," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "It would have really been long had we lost a

doubleheader, but boy, that was a great ending."

Full Game Coverage

• Grand slams mean 40% off pizza

Earlier in the day, Washington learned that Bryce Harper was going to the disabled list with a

bruised left knee and then dropped the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, 4-2.

The rally in the 11th inning began with consecutive singles from Daniel Murphy and Ryan

Zimmerman -- both of whom homered earlier in the game -- followed by an intentional walk

to Anthony Rendon that brought Kendrick to the plate against Giants left-hander Albert

18

Suarez. This was Kendrick's first career grand slam.

"It was pretty cool, I'm not going to lie," Kendrick said. "When I hit it, I just thought it was just

going to go into the gap and I was just running hard, excited because I knew we were going to

win the game. To actually have it go out of the park, to me that was probably one of the best

moments of my career."

Both teams received strong outings from their starters. Nationals right-hander Max

Scherzer threw seven innings of two-run ball with 10 strikeouts, his 13th double digit strikeout

game of the year. The Giants' Matt Moore matched him with one of his best starts of the year.

Moore allowed two runs in seven innings to lower MLB's highest ERA of 5.88 down to 5.71

along with nine strikeouts.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Panda power: Sandoval hit his first homer since returning to the Giants, a towering solo homer

off the facade of the third deck in right field. The ball traveled 423 feet and was hit at 109.8

mph, his second hardest hit home run since Statcast™ began tracking in '15, and hardest since

April 27, 2015.

"It was a huge home run, too," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He got all of it, too. He

crushed it. We're down a run there, so we needed somebody to lift us and he took a nice swing

there."

Nats thwart Giants' threat: With the game knotted at 2 in the top of the ninth inning, the Nats

narrowly escaped what could have been the game-clinching rally by the Giants. With one out

and Joe Panik at third base following a wild pitch and a fly out, Sean Doolittle intentionally

walked Buster Posey to set up a double play. The go-ahead run was 90 feet away, but the Nats'

new closer buckled down by retiring the next two batters to keep the game tied.

WHAT'S NEXT

Giants: After a dizzying schedule in D.C., the Giants will travel to Miami to face the Marlins in a

three-game set that begins Monday night at 4:10 p.m. PT. San Francisco will send lefty Ty

Blach (8-7, 4.15 ERA) to square off against the Marlins' Adam Conley (4-5, 5.43 ERA).

Nationals: After three games in 24 hours, the Nationals have an off-day Monday before they

host the Angels for a two-game series at Nationals Park beginning Tuesday at 7:05 p.m ET. Left-

hander Gio Gonzalez will take the mound; he faced the Angels in Anaheim on July 19 and

surrendered four runs in 5 2/3 innings.

19

MLB.com

Bochy taking cautious approach with Panik

Daniel Shiferaw

WASHINGTON -- The Giants will give Joe Panik the day off Monday against the Marlins

following his home-plate collision in the fourth inning Sunday night during an eventual 6-2 loss

against the Nationals.

The hit came as he attempted to score from second in the top of the fourth inning, but was

thrown out at the plate by Washington center fielder Michael A. Taylor. The throw was on a

direct line to where Panik was sliding, hitting him in the left temple before ricocheting into

catcher Matt Wieters' glove to apply the tag.

Full Game Coverage

"I'm sliding in and all of a sudden I feel a force hitting my head," Panik said. "Next thing [I

know], I'm on the ground."

San Francisco's medical staff evaluated him immediately after the play, ultimately giving the

green light to keep Panik in the game. But manager Bruce Bochy wants to be cautious,

especially considering the 26-year-old was put on the disabled list in 2016 for concussion-like

symptoms after a hit-by-pitch.

"We'll have to watch him tomorrow," Bochy said. "What a bad break. I guess [the ball] hit his

head first, then it hit [the catcher's] glove...I think he was getting a slight headache there

toward the end. He's definitely off tomorrow."

Panik noted that he passed all the concussion tests and felt good during the game, but

conceded that he won't know the full extent of the injury for a few days.

Last season, he attempted to play through his head injury for a few games before he eventually

landed on the 15-day disabled list.

"That was kind of silly on my part," Panik said. "Just trying to be tough and thinking you'll be

fine. ...but that's not something that goes away on its own. I guess I'm going to keep monitoring

it, be more honest."

20

Panik finished the doubleheader 5-for-8 at the plate with two RBIs. He's hitting .270 on the year

with seven home runs and 40 RBIs.

NBSbayareasports.com

Any concussion concers for Joe Panik? ‘Right now I’m good to go’

Alex Pavlovic

WASHINGTON D.C. — Ryan Zimmerman’s bloop to center in the 11th inning late Sunday night

helped lead to a loss for the Giants. But in the big picture, the single signaled a positive

development.

Joe Panik tracked it without any trouble, seven innings after a throw from center hit his helmet,

knocked a contact lens out, and brought back concussion concerns. A year ago, it was a flare to

the outfield at AT&T Park that made Panik realize there really was something wrong, and that

he shouldn’t keep playing through fogginess. This time, he said he feels fine.

“I went through the protocol and all the issues I had last year are non-existent,” he said. “You

never know what will happen going forward, but right now I’m good to go.”

Panik was on second when Hunter Pence bounced a single up the middle. He looked like he

would score easily, but Michael A. Taylor made an absurd throw to the left side of the plate

that reached Matt Wieters’ glove as Panik did. Slow-motion replays showed that the ball nicked

Panik’s helmet an instant before slipping into the glove. Panik was out at the plate, and a

contact was knocked onto his cheek.

“I felt like I got punched,” he said.

Panik was taken back to the clubhouse momentarily but he returned to his position for the

bottom of the inning. At one point, cameras caught him holding a finger in front of his face and

moving it back and forth, as if to test his wooziness. Panik said he was trying to see if the new

contact was working, but he was also doing some of the tests he was taught last summer to see

if his vestibular system was normal.

Panik had a slight headache late in a 20-inning day, but he was already scheduled to be off

Monday in Miami. He said he’ll keep monitoring his symptoms and he will be more honest

about anything that pops up, but he’s confident he’s fine.

Without Panik on Monday, the Giants will be missing their hottest bat. He had five hits in the

doubleheader and drew two walks. He reached base three times Sunday night, but the Giants

21

lost 6-2 when Howie Kendrick hit a walk-off grand slam in extras.

“I picked a good day to feel good at the plate,” Panik said, smiling.

Bruce Bochy wished he had more swinging it that way.

“What a day he had,” Bochy said. “We’ve got some guys struggling. We had some guys who had

a rough day, but he really delivered all day.”

Jarrett Parker was at the front of the line, going 0 for 9 with six strikeouts. Kelby Tomlinson

struck out four times in the nightcap.

There were positives, though. Matt Moore, with a lighter grip on his pitches, showed increased

command and matched Max Scherzer through seven. Pablo Sandoval hit a homer to the upper

deck in right field. It wasn’t enough, though. Two batters after Zimmerman’s bloop, Kendrick hit

an Albert Suarez pitch out to left.

NBCbayareasports.com

Instant Analasys

Alex Pavlovic

WASHINGTON D.C. — The fans who bought tickets for Friday night’s series opener waited 48

hours for the first pitch. Naturally, the Giants and Nationals ended up playing extra innings.

The second game of a doubleheader, and final game of a rain-wrecked series, ended at 10:35

p.m. Sunday night when Howie Kendrick hit a walk-off grand slam with no outs in the bottom of

the 11th. The Nationals won the game 6-2 and took the series.

It was a long weekend. Loooooooooong. Anyway, here are five things to know from the final

game. Don’t @ me if there are spelling or grammar mistakes …

—- Matt Moore took a very positive step against a good lineup. His line: 7 innings, 7 hits, 2

earned runs, 0 walks, 9 strikeouts.

—- Joe Panik, who had a concussion last year, was involved in a scary play at the plate. Panik

was on second when Hunter Pence singled up the middle, and it looked like he would score

ahead of the throw. Michael A. Taylor had other ideas. His rocket to the plate arrived at Panik’s

face just as Matt Wieters’ glove did. Panik went down hard as Wieters hit him, and he appeared

to lose a contact. He was checking his vision during the next half-inning but he stayed in the

game.

22

—- Pablo Sandoval’s first homer since returning was absolutely crushed. Max Scherzer threw

him a 93 mph fastball that caught too much of the plate and Sandoval launched it off the facing

of the upper deck in right. The ball left the bat at 110 mph and traveled an estimated 423 feet.

NBCbayareasports.com

Giants’ Stratton relies on sneakyweapon, mows down Nats in Game 1

Alex Pavlovic

WASHINGTON D.C. — Chris Stratton's first start this season came with just a few minutes of

notice after Johnny Cueto was scratched with an ear infection. His second start was delayed

nearly two weeks because of a groin injury that was probably about as real as the roof at

Nationals Park.

When Stratton’s third start was delayed once again, Bruce Bochy approached the rookie right-

hander. He was pleased with Stratton’s reaction to being pushed back two days by rain.

“He’s got a sense of calmness about him,” Bochy said. “He doesn’t get rattled by anything.”

Perhaps there’s a good reason for that. Stratton has a 15-month-old son at home. A couple of

days of waiting around in the clubhouse can’t seem that stressful for the 26-year-old. Stratton

said he learned his lesson from his previous start, which was pushed back an additional 15

minutes by a pre-game ceremony at AT&T Park. When the rain came Friday, he just sat back in

a clubhouse chair and relaxed.

“You just have to be ready for whatever,” Stratton said.

The Nationals weren’t ready for him.

Stratton struck out 10 in one of the better starts of the year for the Giants, leading the way in a

4-2 win on Sunday afternoon. The double-digit strikeout performance was just the fifth of the

year for the Giants. The win was the first of the season for Stratton, who is going to get a long

audition to be a part of next season’s pitching staff.

“We were hoping he would get a sense of comfort about him with a consistent starting

situation, where he could get on a roll or groove,” Bochy said. “He had good command of all his

pitches today and threw some nice pitches with two strikes … the put-away pitches, he

executed those well.”

Stratton primarily turned to a curveball that’s a sneaky weapon. It has the highest spin rate of

any curve in the game this season, and Stratton threw it 21 times in 6 2/3 innings, getting five

swinging strikes. Four of his strikeouts ended with a curveball. Only one of the curveballs

Stratton threw resulted in a hit.

23

“It’s your traditional 12-to-6 type of breaker and he has good command of it,” Bochy said. “He

doesn’t leave it up too often. It’s a very effective pitch for him.”

Stratton mixed in a good slider, too, and topped out at 93 mph when needed. Bochy called it a

mix that will play at this level, and said he hopes Sunday will show Stratton “how good his stuff

is.”

The Giants want Stratton to take a confidence boost from this and build off of it, but, as has

been the case all year, his next start may not be on normal rest. Stratton was originally

supposed to start on Friday and Wednesday of this trip, but the rain ruined those plans. The

Giants will use a spot starter Wednesday and then will have to reshuffle their rotation in some

way. Stratton doesn’t mind. He’s just ready to show what he can do.

“All you can hope for is an opportunity and you go out there and make the most of it,” he said.

ESPN.com

Power Rankings

ESPN.com

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to reign supreme, getting every first-place vote in Week 19.

But as the stretch races have started heating up, so have the MLB Power Rankings. The St. Louis

Cardinals reappeared in the top 10 on the strength of their recent eight-game winning streak,

moving up four spots. The Boston Red Sox continued their recent climb as well, reaching No. 4.

If they continue to control the American League East race, will they clamber higher still? And

even as the Washington Nationals held their collective breath over Bryce Harper's health, they

pushed past the Houston Astros to take the No. 2 spot overall.

EDITOR'S PICKS

•

The week in Dodgers dominance: Is 116 wins within reach?

We know they're making history, but will they eclipse the single-season wins record? Here's a

look at their past six days and what's next for L.A.

•

Vote: Cubs Confidence Meter

Do fans feel there's a dynasty in the works at Wrigley? Or is there an outbreak of agita on the

North Side? Vote now!

These weren't the only big moves within the rankings. The only team to match the Cardinals for

their four-spot leap was a Minnesota Twins team that has re-entered the American League

wild-card race, while the Pittsburgh Pirates moved up two spots in their push to keep up with

24

the Cardinals in a re-energized National League Central featuring four contenders. But the

biggest drops were even more steep -- the fading Milwaukee Brewers tumbled seven slots as

they mired themselves down among their challengers in the division, while the Kansas City

Royals' six-rung stumble reflects a wide-open race for the second AL wild-card slot.

This week's voters are Bradford Doolittle, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian, David Schoenfield and

Mark Simon.

Week 18 rankings | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week

11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week

2 | Week 1 | Preseason

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Record: 83-34

Week 18 ranking: No. 1

One thing keeping the Dodgers atop the league as they reach for a record-setting season in the

win column, even with Clayton Kershaw on the shelf? Starting pitching, because their 2.39 ERA

from the rotation since Kershaw went on the disabled list (with the Dodgers going 15-3) and

3.48 ERA from non-Kershaw starters all season are far and away MLB's best marks. -- Christina

Kahrl, ESPN.com

2. Washington Nationals

Record: 70-46


The impact of the Bryce Harper injury may be contingent on just how well returning

outfielder Michael Taylor plays. Taylor was hitting .278 with a .510 slugging percentage in a

breakthrough season before suffering an oblique injury. Taylor's injury rehab took awhile and

included a 2-for-30 struggle at high-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg. But the Nationals may

have been convinced that Taylor is all right by his 2-for-4 game with Harrisburg on Saturday

night before activating him Sunday to take Harper's place. -- Mark Simon, ESPN Stats &

Information

25

3. Houston Astros

Record: 72-45


While we wait and see what the Astros do about their problems on the mound and in the

clubhouse, there are positives. Jose Altuve is cruising toward his fourth batting title (and a

fourth straight 200-hit season) and leading the AL in WAR (6.5), while Alex Bregman is coming

into his own at the plate in the second half, as his 1.036 OPS since the break ranks fifth in the

AL. -- Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com

4. Boston Red Sox

Record: 67-50


The Red Sox are on fire. Eduardo Nunez has been amazing and Andrew Benintendi has been

one of the best hitters in baseball after an extended slump. They keep winning despite the

rotation struggling a bit lately as Rick Porcello's disappointing season continues, but Eduardo

Rodríguez has shown signs that he can pick up the slack come playoff time. -- Michael Bonzagni,

ESPN Stats & Information

5. Cleveland Indians

Record: 63-52


With ongoing worries over Jason Kipnis' health added to Michael Brantley going to the DL, the

Indians were wise to grab Jay Bruce from the Mets to reinforce a lineup that has yet to really hit

on all cylinders. Until that happens, starting pitching has sustained the Indians' hold on first

place in the AL Central, reflected in their AL-best 3.21 ERA since the break. -- Christina Kahrl,

26

ESPN.com

6. Arizona Diamondbacks

Record: 65-52


Even with their cushion in the NL wild-card race, the Snakes should be relieved that Robbie

Ray should soon rejoin the rotation. Paul Goldschmidt might not have a shot at a 30-30 season

or a Triple Crown, but he's the NL WAR leader and should get significant support from voters

come awards time. -- Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com

7. New York Yankees

Record: 61-55


In the first half, Aaron Judge hit .420 in at-bats ending on an upper-half fastball, while slugging

.960 on those pitches. In the second half, he has hit .100 in at-bats ending on upper-half

fastballs, with a .175 SLG. Sliders have been a problem too -- Judge has seen 137 sliders in the

second half, has swung at 56 and missed 38. He has no hits and 20 outs against them. -- Sarah

Langs, ESPN Stats & Information

8. Colorado Rockies

Record: 65-52


Although Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado have been perhaps the only consistent bats in

the Rockies' lineup, lately they've gotten significant boosts from Gerardo Parra (.965 OPS since

the break) and Jonathan Lucroy (.938 as a Rockie since he was traded from Texas). Those two

won't be their only surprise contributors down the stretch, though -- Chad Bettis takes his next

27

step coming back from testicular cancer with his season debut on the mound Monday night. --

Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com

9. Chicago Cubs

Record: 61-55

Week 18 ranking: 8

Multiple problems seem to combine to keep bringing the Cubs back to the pack. Losing Willson

Contreras cost them their hottest bat as he appeared on the cusp of turning Bryzzo into a trinity

of greatness, but with Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber both hitting, the Cubs' offense still rates

as top-tier. The greater worry is the pen, which is posting an MLB-worst walk rate since the

break as well as 4.24 ERA that puts them in MLB's bottom 10 during that time. -- Christina

Kahrl, ESPN.com

10. St. Louis Cardinals

Record: 61-57


The Cardinals have shown that in a season of great parity, one long winning streak can turn a

team from pretender to contender. It will be fascinating to watch if an offense that scored eight

runs in six straight games can sustain excellence for an extended period of time. By the way, the

last time the Cardinals scored eight or more in six straight was in 2011, when they won the

World Series. -- Mark Simon, ESPN Stats & Information

11. Seattle Mariners

Record: 59-60


28

The Mariners dropped their first four games of a critical 10-game stretch against teams also

jockeying for the second AL wild-card spot. Making matters worse, they suffered a major blow

when James Paxton hit the DL with a pec strain; he owns the lowest ERA among AL starters

since July 1 (1.92). Will their trades for rotation depth while Paxton, Felix

Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma recover keep them afloat? -- Paul Hembekides, ESPN Stats &

Information

12. Tampa Bay Rays

Record: 59-60


Closer Alex Colome doesn't have the greatest numbers, but he has been vital to the Rays since

early July. Colome has converted 12 of his past 13 save chances and has not allowed a hit in

four August appearances. Effective work in closing out tight games will be essential in this

playoff push. -- Mark Simon, ESPN Stats & Information

13. Los Angeles Angels

Record: 61-58


The Halos are 10-3 since the calendar flipped to August (with Mike Trout leading the way with

his 1.270 OPS), vaulting themselves back into the thick of an increasingly wild American League

wild-card picture. A resilient group, they've managed to win 36 games this season in come-

from-behind fashion, including seven in August. -- Paul Hembekides, ESPN Stats & Information

14. Baltimore Orioles

Record: 58-60


29

If only Manny Machado could go back and play the first half the way he has in the second half.

He's hitting .336 since the break with a .906 OPS. In the first half, he hit .230 with a .741 OPS.

The Orioles have gotten themselves back into the race, too. They're 2½ games behind the

Angels in the race for the second wild card. They have a lot of teams ahead of them, but they

have their preseason projected MVP candidate playing like what was expected of him. -- Sarah

Langs, ESPN Stats & Information

15. Pittsburgh Pirates

Record: 58-60


Here's where the season makes or breaks for the Pirates. Their week consists of two games

with the Brewers and four games at home with the Cardinals, followed by four more at home

with the Dodgers. Can Andrew McCutchen carry the Pirates through? His slugging consistency

has been impressive. He has had a season slugging percentage at .500 or above since July 4. But

the Cardinals have held him in check; he's slugging only .303 against them. -- Mark Simon, ESPN

Stats & Information

16. Minnesota Twins

Record: 59-57


Eddie Rosario has discovered his power stroke. He has 16 home runs this season, two more

than he had in any of his two prior seasons of his career before 2017. His .503 slugging

percentage would be a career high if it stays that high. He has a 18 percent hard-hit rate this

season, which also would be a career best. And it isn't just luck -- his .332 BABIP would actually

be a career low. -- Sarah Langs, ESPN Stats & Information

17. Milwaukee Brewers

30

Record: 61-59


The Brewers needed a walk-off wild pitch on Saturday to end a six-game losing streak, and

they're just 11-18 since the break. The starting rotation was seventh in the majors in ERA in the

first half, but is in the bottom half so far since the All-Star Game. And now their schedule is

getting tough, with 12 of their next 17 games against teams over .500, so they're not about to

catch many breaks. -- John Fisher, ESPN Stats & Information

18. Kansas City Royals

Record: 59-58


The Royals have really struggled in August despite Melky Cabrera, Lorenzo Cain and Mike

Moustakas all hitting well. The problem is that no one else on the team has been good. Setting

aside their declining shot at catching the Indians in the AL Central, the Royals are still alive in

the wild-card race, but they need to pick it up within the pack. -- Michael Bonzagni, ESPN Stats

& Information

19. Texas Rangers

Record: 56-60


Joey Gallo isn't just bidding to enter the history books as one of the most fearsome Three True

Outcomes hitters of all time by homering, walking or whiffing in almost 59 percent of his plate

appearances, he boasts an incredible ratio of homers to singles with 32 to 20 on the season. Put

that man on a poster, because his power hitting captures the spirit of the season. -- Christina

Kahrl, ESPN.com

31

20. Miami Marlins

Record: 56-60


Giancarlo Stanton can't be stopped. On Sunday he became the first player in 15 years to hit 21

home runs in a 33-game span -- a pace for 103 HRs if he played all 162 games. The Fish also

have gotten some really good starting pitching while going 13-9 since they started a six-game

road trip on July 21. With their next 13 games against the Giants, Mets, Phillies and Padres, they

might be poised to make a move up in the rankings. -- John Fisher, ESPN Stats & Information

21. Toronto Blue Jays

Record: 56-61


Chris Rowley's major league debut could end up being a primary highlight of the Blue Jays'

season. Rowley is the second player to play in the majors who played baseball at Army, and he's

the first pitcher. And what did he do in his debut? He went 5⅓ innings, allowing one run and

earning the win. -- Sarah Langs, ESPN Stats & Information

22. New York Mets

Record: 53-62


The Mets have not gotten the value they were hoping for from Yoenis Cespedes this season,

but there are signs that he is back to healthy. Cespedes went 21 games without a home run

from June 24 to July 24, but he now has five in his past 17 games. A healthy Cespedes will be

vital to the Mets' hopes in 2018. -- Mark Simon, ESPN Stats & Information

32

23. Detroit Tigers

Record: 53-64


Justin Upton has been great, as has Mikie Mahtook, but those are about the only things going

right for the Tigers of late. Those two are their only regulars with an OPS over .800 in the

second half. Every starting pitcher not named Justin Verlander has an ERA over 4.00 since the

break. The good news is that if Verlander keeps pitching like he has (and the Astros keep losing

games), Al Avila might be able to swing a deal to net Detroit some prospects. -- Michael

Bonzagni, ESPN Stats & Information

24. Atlanta Braves

Record: 52-63


Since sweeping the D-backs coming out of the break, the Braves are just 7-18 since, including

going 0-6 against the Phillies. Perhaps the most important thing for the Braves the rest of the

way will be the development of shortstop Dansby Swanson. He has struggled early on since

being recalled from the minors this week. -- John Fisher, ESPN Stats & Information

25. Oakland Athletics

Record: 52-66


Designated hitter Ryon Healy's slump at the plate may endanger his future in the A's new-look

lineup. Since his OPS crested at .871 on June 17, he has put up an MLB-worst .562 OPS.

Although he's just in his second season, hitting like that is not going to play at DH or first base. -

- Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com

33

26. Cincinnati Reds

Record: 49-69


First baseman Joey Votto is enjoying another historic second half. He's on pace to become the

third player to post a .500 OBP multiple times after the All-Star break (joining Barry Bonds and

Ted Williams) after also doing so in 2015. -- Paul Hembekides, ESPN Stats & Information

27. San Diego Padres

Record: 51-66


Cory Spangenberg, Jose Pirela and Manuel Margot all have been great for the Padres in the

second half, but that's just about all the good news San Diego has to offer fans. Wil Myers is the

highest-paid player on the roster, and he ranks 10th on the team in WAR, and the big money in

his $83 million contract extension hasn't even kicked in yet. -- Michael Bonzagni, ESPN Stats &

Information

28. San Francisco Giants

Record: 47-72


The Giants have hit five three-run home runs this season, the fewest in the majors. How few?

The next fewest are twice the Giants' total: The Cardinals and Royals have 10 each. The first

three of the Giants' three-run home runs all came on the road, and they hadn't hit one at home

until Aug. 3, when pitcher Ty Blach did. Just a few days later, Buster Posey followed up with

another. -- Sarah Langs, ESPN Stats & Information

29. Chicago White Sox

34

Record:45-70


Bring on the youth movement. Yoan Moncada enjoyed a seven-game hit streak from Aug. 4-11,

raising his batting average from .100 to .215 after a slow start. Pitching prospect Reynaldo

Lopez had a strong White Sox debut on Friday, striking out six while allowing two runs in six

innings of work. He sported an explosive fastball, ranging from 94-98 mph. -- Paul Hembekides,

ESPN Stats & Information

30. Philadelphia Phillies

Record: 43-72


This Phillies' season is all about youth, and Aaron Nolacontinues to shine. He has a 1.71 ERA in

his past 10 starts, allowing two runs or fewer in all 10. According to Elias Sports Bureau, that's

the longest streak by a Phillies starter since the mound was moved to its current distance in

1893. And Odubel Herrera has been on fire since the beginning of June -- he's top 10 in the

majors in batting average (.342) and top 20 in OPS (.966). -- John Fisher, ESPN Stats &

Information

Documents

SF Giants Press Clips Monday, August 14, 2017sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/documents/4/1/6/248364416/8... · 2018-09-29 · Scherzer struck out at least 10 batters for the 62nd time