Latest loss seen as at least a step in right direction
NEW YORK — Can a loss be a win? Not technically. Maybe figuratively, at least to some degree. Especially for a team that knows more about losses than any other.
The Giants became the worst team in baseball Monday by falling 4-3 to the Mets to drop to 11-22. It was San Francisco’s fourth straight defeat but an upgrade from the previous three. If there is such a thing. Let Buster Posey explain. “Those games in Cincinnati, they weren’t good,” said Posey, referring to the Reds’ threegame bullying in which they outscored the Giants 31-5. “Ultimately, tonight was a loss. They count the same. But you do have to take the positives from it.”
The Giants actually were in Monday’s game all nine innings, until Neil Walker’s walk-off single, which is more than could be said about the Cincinnati games. Baby steps. The final inning began when Josh Osich walked Michael Conforto. Osich retired the next two batters, but Hunter Strickland gave up Wilmer Flores’ infield single and Walker’s game-ender down the line in right.
That secured the Giants with the majors’ lousiest record, just ahead of the Royals (11-20).
Didn’t those two teams meet in a World Series recently? How the mighty have fallen.
Unlike in Cincinnati, at least there were reasons for hope. Starting with home runs by Hunter Pence and Posey off Jacob deGrom, an encouraging sign for a team that’s last in the majors in homers.
“I thought we played better,” Posey said. “We were able to score runs against a really good pitcher. Matty Moore showed signs of improvement. Yeah, shoot, it’s tough. We’re doing everything we can to try to get a win, and we came up a little bit short.”
It doesn’t take much for Pence to be positive. That’s him pretty much always. When asked before the game about the team bus breaking down in Cincinnati on the way to the airport Sunday night, Pence, like only he can, sounded optimistic.
“Sometimes it helps. I thought it helped,” Pence said. “Everyone was sharing stories. We got a little closer, which was cool.”
Pence added, “The sun came up today.”
The sun shone on Pence in the first inning after Brandon Belt drew a one-out walk. Pence drilled deGrom’s full-count fastball over the wall in rightcenter field, and Posey’s homer broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth.
Moore, coming off a stinker in Los Angeles (nine runs in 31⁄3 innings), lasted into the sixth inning. He exited after Rene Rivera’s one-out single, and the Mets tied it 3-3 when Curtis Granderson doubled off George Kontos.
Moore wasn’t totally pleased with his performance, which began with a four-pitch walk and a 36-pitch first inning. And the Giants collected just five hits and went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
Still, it was their cleanest game since last week at Dodger Stadium.
“We had a lot of good things happen today,” manager Bruce Bochy said.
Pence said of the team-wide funk, “Just working to get better. I’m not looking at the problem. I’m looking for solutions. Looking for improvement.”
When the team bus broke down, players had to wait for the Giants’ staff bus to arrive so they could pile in it and complete their journey. In many cases, especially for young players, it was standing room only.
“Comedy relief,” Pence said. “Something to laugh about. We still got to the airport. It definitely got people smiling a little bit, like, ‘Holy cow.’ For the most part, it was received well.”
There were no problems with Monday’s bus. It made it to Citi Field.
“I took Uber,” Bochy said.