San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Webb’s performance reaches peak efficiency
ATLANTA — Giants pitching coaches emphasize the importance of efficiency and pace. The more efficient, the quicker the pace, the better the results. At least in most cases.
Logan Webb couldn’t have followed the methodology any better in the fourth inning Saturday night. He threw a three-pitch inning, the Giants’ first since 2010, which helped him pitch deep into the game. Once again.
Webb worked seven innings of five-hit ball, and the Giants beat the Braves 5-0 to notch their 15th shutout of the season and improve their record on the Eastern swing to 4-1. Webb has emerged not only
as the rotation’s top starter but the only pitcher who can be relied on to consistently reach the late innings. The righthander made six August starts and pitched at least six innings each time, and he hasn’t surrendered more than two runs in a 13-start stretch since May 11.
The only streak longer in Giants history belongs to Ferdie Schupp, a 5-foot-10 lefty from Louisville and 10-year big-leaguer whose streak in 1916 and 1917 was 16 games. Webb’s ERA in 13 starts since May 11 is 1.47.
Saturday, his pitch count was ramping up through three innings — 59 — and how did he respond? With the three-pitch fourth.
Webb’s first pitch in the fourth plunked Travis d’Arnaud, and the second to Adam Duvall turned into a double play — second to short to first. Two pitches, two outs. That often means the next guy would take a pitch if only to … well, avoid what happened.
Instead, Joc Pederson swung and flied to left. The threepitch inning was the Giants’ first since Madison Bumgarner, then a rookie, spun one on Aug. 14, 2010.
“I was a little frustrated finishing that third inning. I got two outs and threw too many pitches,” Webb said. “I started off the next inning hitting the guy. I’m happy those guys swung at those two pitches. It was huge. It gave me a little confidence; everyone a little confidence at that point I could throw two, possibly three more innings after that.” Suddenly, Webb was on a good pace, 62 pitches through four innings. That he followed with a nine-pitch fifth and 14-pitch sixth was a delightful sign for Giants defenders who spent little time on the field in the middle innings and were able to get back in the dugout and hit.
The sixth inning wasn’t particularly crisp because third baseman Wilmer Flores made a throwing error on what should have been a double play. Webb, playing the role of good teammate, made sure the mishap wasn’t costly and retired Dansby Swanson on a popup and induced d’Arnaud to bounce into a double play.
In the dugout after the inning, Webb and Flores embraced. Before the error, Webb got his glove on a grounder that would’ve gone right to Flores, who was shifted behind second base. Because of the deflection, the ball got to Flores too slowly for him to record an out.
They both apologized to one another.
“He said thanks for picking me up. Flo’s my guy,” Webb said. “We kind of hugged it out, kind of went with it. That was a cool moment for me and him.”
“Yeah,” Flores said, “I just told him, ‘Way to pick me up.’ ”
Manager Gabe Kapler said Webb’s response to Flores’ errant throw “represented probably the most important moment of his development thus far. I think he sensed the opportunity to step up for the group.”
The quick innings enabled Webb to get through six innings on 85 pitches and earn the right to pitch the seventh, which he completed in 1-2-3 fashion. Webb exited with a 3-0 cushion, courtesy of Tommy La Stella’s home run and sacrifice fly, which scored Webb after his double.
Later, Mike Yastrzemski hit his 21st homer, matching his career high from 2019, and doubled home a run. Tyler Rogers and Jay Jackson pitched the eighth and ninth innings to complete the shutout.