Giants can’t handle rookie in 13inning loss
SAN FRANCISCO — Atlanta Braves prospect Austin Riley is two full years younger than every player on the Giants roster.
There’s a significant age gap between Riley and the players defending him whenever he steps in the batter’s box and while four games is a small sample size, there might be a talent gap, too.
Riley looked more polished than hitters in both dugouts during this week’s series between the Giants and Braves.
With a go-ahead single off right-hander Reyes Moronta in the top of the 13th inning, Riley collected his sixth hit and eighth RBI of the series as the left fielder led the Braves to a 54 win and a series victory over the Giants.
“Riley killed us,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He got some big hits, even off Moronta.”
Riley blasted three home runs in four games this week including a game-tying shot with two outs in the top of the seventh off Giants lefty Tony Watson. Riley homered off of Watson and fellow Giants lefties Derek Holland and Andrew Suarez this week, as the one left-hander who did handle him started Thursday’s game for the Giants.
Each time he takes the mound, Madison Bumgarner has the look of a pitcher who is slowly but steadily gearing up to pitch in October. After mustering just seven hits in Thursday’s series finale, the Giants have their hands full if the want to create any sense of hope to play beyond September.
The Giants had the winning run at second base in the ninth and 10th innings, but a Buster Posey groundout and Mac Williamson strikeout ended both threats. Williamson became the fifth player in Giants history to strike out five times in one game as he’s now 1 for his last 23.
“Maybe I should go ask Riley for some tips,” Williamson said.
Williamson is the first Giants player to strike out five times in the same game since Brandon Belt did so in eight at-bats against the New York Mets on July 8, 2013.
“I feel confident when I go to the plate,” Williamson said. “But I think part of it as a pitcher, when a guy is hitting .120 or .130 or whatever, that instantly gives them a pretty good confidence. They’re not afraid to throw to me right now.”
Though the rest of the club struggled, there are more fist pumps, there is more intensity
and for good reason, there’s more self-confidence emanating from Bumgarner than there has been over the last two-plus seasons.
If Bumgarner is going to pitch in the postseason this year, there’s a much better chance it will be for a team like the Braves than it will for the only major league franchise he’s ever known.
Whether Bumgarner sees it this way or not, each time he takes the mound is an audition for playoff contenders who may have interest in adding the free agent-to-be to their rotation this summer.
Atlanta is high on the list of clubs that could use Bumgarner’s postseason experience, and the Braves had the chance to have any lingering questions about the left-hander’s effectiveness answered in front of their eyes during his Thursday start.