August 15, 2024; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants middle fielder Grant McCray (proper) after hitting his first main league residence run within the sixth inning towards the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park Third base coach Matt Williams (9) celebrates. Obligatory Credit score: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports activities The San Francisco Giants look to enhance their standing within the Nationwide League wild-card race when the Oakland Athletics host a two-game collection beginning Saturday afternoon, however solely on the expense of their native rivals.
On the morning of July 26, the Giants have been simply 49-55 and have been potential sellers earlier than the commerce deadline, however they took benefit of the schedule bubble by profitable 16 straight video games towards groups with dropping information. A file of 12 wins and 4 losses.
That put them again in competition for the playoffs, however they began the week dropping three of 4 video games to one in every of their challengers, the Atlanta Braves.
The Giants did win the ultimate recreation of the collection and now hope to make use of that momentum towards two different groups beneath .500 – the Athletics and Chicago White Sox – after which all through the remainder of the season A tricky begin to the sport.
San Francisco has solely received two video games at residence towards the Athletics in its latest rise, however this time it’ll emerge with new weapons. Outfielder Grant McRae has already made an impression in simply two video games, capping Thursday’s recreation with a profitable squeeze bunt and his first main league residence run within the 6. -0 performed a dominant function within the victory.
Giants supervisor Bob Melvin beforehand praised different points of the 23-year-old middle fielder’s recreation.
“It is extra about protection now; it is extra about athleticism,” Melvin stated. “We have seen what we have now in Tyler (shortstop Fitzgerald) … one other quick, dynamic man on base.”
The A’s have seen a few of their younger expertise blossom not too long ago, profitable seven of eight collection throughout that span, sandwiched in a break up with the Giants. Victims embrace the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, and most not too long ago, the New York Mets.
Just like the Giants, Oakland enters the collection with an impressed win. The Athletics ended their highway collection with a 7-6 victory over the Mets in New York on Thursday.
Catcher Shea Langeliers was the star of the 2-1 collection win over the Mets, reaching base safely 11 occasions, together with 5 in every of the 2 wins. No Athletics catcher has reached base 11 or extra occasions in the identical collection in 83 years since Frankie Hayes performed for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1941 .
“It is enjoyable to get on base,” Langeliers stated. “I can see the ball effectively, put collectively good hitters and construct confidence. Simply get good pitches and make an excellent swing. I’ve discovered that by protecting it so easy, you have got the flexibility to stack nice days on prime of one another.
Final month, Langeliers had a double and a run in a 5-2 win over San Francisco within the collection opener. Neither he nor any of his teammates have confronted right-hander Hayden Birdsong (3-2, 5.40 ERA), the Giants’ starter on Saturday.
The rookie has misplaced his final two begins, permitting a mixed 12 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings to the Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers.
Likewise, the Giants are unfamiliar with Osvaldo Bido (3-3, 3.92), Oakland’s starter within the collection opener. The second-year main leaguer served because the opener for the Pittsburgh Pirates in an 8-4 residence loss to San Francisco in July 2023, permitting three runs in 2 2/3 innings.
The 28-year-old had one of the best efficiency of his two-year profession in a 1-0 highway win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, permitting two hits in six innings.
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